him too unsufferably God from Heaven blesse you Remember your Deanerie and Dean of Westminster c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the Earl Marshals place 1. Septemb. 1621. My most Noble Lord I Beseech your Lordship to interpret this Letter well and fairly which no malice though never so provoked but my duty to his Majestie and love to your Lordship hath drawn from me both which respects as long as I keep inviolably I will not omit for the fear of any man or the losse of any thing in this world to do any act which my Conscience shall inform me to belong unto that place wherein the King by your favour hath intrusted me I received this morning two Commands from his Majestie the one about a Pension of 2000 l. yearly and the other concerning the office of the Earle Marshal both conferred on the Right Honourable the Earle of Arundel For the former although this is a very unseasonable time to receive such large Pensions from so bountiful a King and that the Parliament so soon approaching is very like to take notice thereof and that this pension might under the correction of your better judgment have been conveniently deferred until that Assembly had been over Yet who am I that should question the wisedom and bounty of my Master I have therefore sealed the same praying secretly unto God to make his Majestie as abounding in wealth as he is in goodnesse But the latter I dare not seale my good Lord until I heare your Lordships resolution to these few Questions Whether his Majestie by expressing himself in the delivery of the staffe to my Lord of Arundel that he was moved thereunto for the easing of the rest of the Comissioners who had before the execution of that office did not imply that his Majestie intended to impart unto my Lord no greater power then was formerly granted to the Lords Comissioners If it were so this Pattent should not have exceeded their Pattent whereas it doth inlarge it self beyond that by many dimensions Whether it is his Majesties meaning that the Pattent leaping over the powers of the three last Earles Essex Shrewsbery and Sommerset should refer onely to my Lords own Ancestors Howards and Mowbrayes Dukes of Norfolk who clamed this place by a way of inheritance The usual reference of Pattents being unto the last and immediate predecessour and not unto the remote whose powers in those unsettled and troublesome times are vage uncertain and unpossible to be limited Whether it is his Majesties meaning that this great Lord should bestow those offices settled of a long time in the Crown Sir Edward Zouch his in the Court Sir George Reinel's in the Kings Bench and divers others All which this new Pattent doth sweep away being places of great worth and dignity Whether that his Majesties meaning and your Lordships that my Lord Stewards place shall be for all his power of Judicature in the Verge either altogether extinguished or at leastwise subordinated unto this new Office A point considerable because of the greatnesse of that person and his neernesse in bloud to his Majestie and the Prince his Highnesse Lastly Whether it be intended that the offices of the Earl Marshal of England and the Marshal of the Kings house which seem in former times to have been distinct offices shall be now united in this great Lord A power limited by no Law or Record but to be searcht out from Chronicles Antiquaries Heralds and such obsolete Monuments and thereupon held these 60 years for my Lord of Essex his power was clearly bounded and limited unfit to be revived by the policy of this State These Questions if his Majestie intended onely the renewing of this Commission of the Earl Marshals in my Lord of Arundel are material and to the purpose But if his Majestie aymed withal at the reviving of this old office A la ventura whose face is unknown to the people of this age upon the least intimation from your Lordship I will seal the Patent And I beseech your Lordship to pardon my discretion in this doubt and irresolution It is my place to be wary what innovation passeth the Seal I may offend that great Lord in this small stay but your Lordship cannot but know how little I lose when I lose but him whom without the least cause in the world I have irreconcileably lost already All that I desire is that you may know what is done and I will ever do what your Lordship being once informed shall direct as becometh c. That there is a difference betwixt the Earl Marshal and the Marshall of the Kings house See Lamberts Archiron or of the High Courts of Justice in England Circa Medium The Marshal of England and the Constable are united in a Court which handleth onely Duels out of the Realm matters within the Realm as Combats Blazon Armorie c. but it may meddle with nothing tryable by the Lawes of the Land The Marshal of the Kings Houshold is united in a Court with the Seneschal or Steward which holds plea of Trespasses Contracts and Covenants made within the Verge and that according to the Lawes of the Land Vid. Artic. Super Cart. C. 3. 4. 5. We do all of us conceive the King intended the first place only for this great Lord and the second to remain in the Lord Stewards managing But this new Patent hath comprehended them both This was fit to be presented to your Lordship The Lord Keeper to the Duke 16. Decemb. 1621. Most Noble Lord I Have seen many expressions of your love in other mens Letters where it doth most naturally and purely declare it self since I received any of mine own It is much your Lordship should spare me those thoughts which pour out themselves in my occasions But to have me and my affaires in a kind of affectionate remembrance when your Lordship is saluting of other Noble men is more then ever I shall be able otherwaies to requite then with true prayers and best wishes I received this afternoon by Sir John Brook a most loving Letter from your Lordship but dated the 26th of Novemb. imparting your care over me for the committing of one Beeston for breach of a Decree My Noble Lord Decrees once made must be put in execution or else I will confesse this Court to be the greatest imposture and Grievance in this Kingdom The damned in Hell do never cease repining at the Justice of God nor the prisoners in the Fleet at the Decrees in Chancery of the which hell of prisoners this one for antiquity and obstinacy may passe for a Lucifer I neither know him nor his cause but as long as he stands in Contempt he is not like to have any more liberty His Majesties last Letter though never so full of honey as I find by passages reported out of the same being as yet not so happy as to have a sight thereof hath notwithstanding afforded those Spiders which infest that noble
news of Gods blessing upon your Grace and it seasoned all the hard journey I have had out of Wales through the Snow When I had rested my self a little at my friend's house in the Forrest Mr. Windebank a servant of your Grace's whom I made bold to make known to your Honour I came to Windsor in hope to have been so happie as to meet your Grace at the great solemnitie but when I came I found that which I suspected that your Grace's greater joy would carrie you farther Which journey and the cause and the end of it I heartily wish and pray may be full of joy and all contentment to your Grace I made bold to trouble your Grace with a Letter or two out of VVales which I hope Mr. VVindebank took the best care he could to see delivered I have no means to do your Grace any service but by my prayers and they do daily attend and shall ever while I breathe to utter them I hope though I have missed this opportunitie yet I shall be so happie as to see and wait upon your Grace at London In the mean time and ever I leave your Grace and all your home-blessings to the protection of the Almightie and shall ever be found Your Graces most devoted and affectionate servant Guil. Meneven VVindsor 13. Decemb 1625. Doctor Mountague Bishop of Chichester to the Duke May it please your Grace YOur Highnesse vouchsafed at VVindsor to let me understand that his Majestie my gracious Master and Soveraign had taken me off from that trouble and vexation which by some mens procurement I was put unto in the House of Commons They as I understand think not so but intend to proceed against me so far as they can as having returned his Majestie no other answer but that I was freed from imprisonment It is true that besides 20 l. which the Serjeant had of me by exaction for fees they bound me unto him in a bond of 2000 l. to appear before them the first day of the next Sessions I beseech your Grace that as you have been pleased to tie me unto your excellent not onely self but also most honourable Sister in that bond of obligation as never was poor Scholar to such Worthies so you would be pleased to let his Majestie understand the case that by your means I may be absolutely discharged with the redeliverie of my bond from them whom I never offended who under correction have nothing to do with me and as his Majesties servant be left unto himself especially for that which was authorised by himself and commanded by his Father my late Master of ever blessed memorie If his Majestie will be pleased to call for their accusations against me if I do not really and thoroughly answer whatsoever is or can be imputed to me out of my books I will no further desire favour and protection of his Majestie and your Gracious self but be willingly left unto my enemies I must crave pardon for presuming thus to trouble your Grace the rather because through a grievous affliction of the Collick and Stone I am not able personally to attend your Grace whom according unto my most bounden dutie I daily recommend unto the Almightie being more obliged unto your noble self then ever to any one So remaining Most humbly at your Graces service ever Ri. Mountague Petworth 29. July 1. IF any or all the Papists living can prove that the Roman Church as it now stands in opposition to the Church of England is either the Catholique Church of Christ or a found member of the Catholique Church I will subscribe 2. If any or all the Papists living can prove unto me that the Church of England as it standeth at this day is not a true member of the Catholique Church I will subscribe 3. If any or all the Papists living can prove unto me that any one point at this day maintained by the Church of Rome against the Church of England was the received Doctrine of the Catholique Church or concluded by any general Councel or particular approved Councel or resolved of by any one Father of Credit to be such for 500. years at least after Christ I will subscribe Ri. Mountague The Bishops of Rochester Oxford and St. Davids to the Duke concerning Mr. Mountague May it please your Grace VVEE are bold to be suitors to you in the behalf of the Church of England and a poor member of it Mr. Mountague at this time not a little distressed We are not strangers to his person but it is the Cause which we are bound to be tender of The cause we conceive under correction of better judgment concerns the Church of England merely for that Church when it was reformed from the superstitious opinions broached or maintained by the Church of Rome refused the apparant and dangerous errours and would not be too busie with every particular School point The cause why she held this moderation was because she could not be able to preserve any unitie amongst Christians if men were forced to subscribe to curious particulars disputed in Schooles Now may it please your Grace the opinions which at this time trouble many men in the late Book of Mr. Mountague are some of them such as are expresly the resolved doctrine of the Church of England and those he is bound to maintain Some of them such as are fit onely for Schooles and to be left at more liberty for learned men to abound in their own sense so they keep themselves peaceable and distract not the Church And therefore to make any man subscribe to Schoole opinions may justly seeme hard in the Church of Christ and was one great fault of the Councel of Trent And to affright them from those opinions in which they have as they are bound subscribed to the Church as it is worse in it self so it may be the Mother of greater danger May it please your Grace farther to consider that when the Clergie submited themselves in the time of Henry the 8th the submission was so that if any difference doctrinal or other fell in the Church the King and the Bishops were to be Judges of it in a national Synode or Convocation The King first giving leave under his broad Seale to handle the points in difference But the Church never submitted to any other Judge neither indeed can Shee though Shee would And we humbly desire your Grace to consider and then to move his most Gracious Majestie if you shall think fit what dangerous Consequences may follow upon it For first if any other Judge be allowed in matter of Doctrine we shall depart from the ordinance of Christ and the continual course and practise of the Church 2. Secondly if the Church be once brought down beneath her self we cannot but fear what may be next Strook at 3. Thirdly it will some way touch the honour of his majesties dear Father and our most dread Soveraign of Glorious and ever blessed memorie King James
who saw and approved all the opinions in this Book and he in his rare wisdom and judgment would never have allowed them if they had Crossed with truth and the Church of England 4. Fourthly we must be bold to say that we cannot conceive what use there can be of Civil Government in the common Wealth or of preaching and external ministrie in the Church if such fatall opinions as some which are opposite and contrarie to these delivered by Mr. Mountague are shall be Publiquely taught and maintained 5. Fiftly we are certain that all or most of the contrarie opinions were treated of at Lambeth and ready to be published but then Queen Elizabeth of famous memorie upon notice given how little they agreed with the Practice of pietie and obedience to all Government caused them to be suppressed and so they have continued ever since till of late some of them have received countenance at the Synod of Dort Now this was a Synod of that nation and can be of no authority in any other National Church till it be received there by Publique authority And our hope is that the Church of England will be well advised and more then once over before Shee admit a forraign Synod especiallie of such a Church as condemneth her discipline and manner of Government to say no more And further we are bold to commend to your Graces wisdom this one particular His Majestie as we have been informed hath already taken this businesse into his own care and most worthily referred it in a right course to Church-consideration And we well hoped that without further trouble to the state or breach of unity in the Church it might so have been well and orderly composed as we still pray it may These things considered we have little to say for Mr. Mountagues person onely thus much we know He is a very good Scholler and a right honest man A man every way able to do God his Majestie and the Church of England great service We fear he may receive great discouragement and which is far worse we have some cause to doubt this may bred a great backwardnesse in able men to write in the defence of the Church of England against either home or forraign adversaries if they shall see him sink in fortunes reputation or health upon his book occasion And this we most humbly submit to your Graces judgment and care of the Churches peace and welfare So recommending your Grace to the protection of Almighty God We shall ever rest At your Graces service Jo. Roffens Jo. Oxon. Guil Meneven 2. August 1625. Doctor Field Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke My Gracious Good Lord IN the great Library of men that I have studied these many yeares your Grace is the best Book and most Classick authour that I have read in whom I find so much goodnesse sweetnesse and noblenesse of nature such an Heroick spirit for boundlesse bounty as I never did in any I could instance in many some of whom you have made Deanes some Bishops some Lords and Privy Councellours None that ever looked toward your Grace did ever go empty away I need go no farther then my self a gum of the Earth whom some 8. years ago you raised out of the dust for raysing but a thought so high as to serve your Highnesse Since that I have not played the Truant but more diligently studied you then ever before And yet Dunce that I am I stand at a stay and am a Non-proficient the book being the same that ever it was as may appear by the great proficiencie of others This wonderfully poseth me and sure there is some guile some wile in some of my fellow Students who hide my book from me or some part of it All the fault is not in mine own blockishnesse that I thrive no better I once feared this before that some did me ill offices Your Grace was pleased to protest no man had and to assure me no man could My heart tels me it hath been alwaies upright and is still most faithful unto you I have examined my actions my words and my very thoughts and found all of them ever since most sound unto your Grace Give me leave after so long Patience for which vertue you were once pleased to commend me to my old Master King James and I have not yet lost it now that for these 12 Months almost I have been not onely upon the Stage but upon the rack of expectations even distracted between hope and fear to comfort my self with recordation of your Loving kindnesses of old when on that great feast day of your being inaugured our Chancellour my look was your booke wherein you read sadnesse to which I was bold to answer I trusted your Grace would give me no cause You replyed with losse of blood rather that was your noble expression But God forbid so precious an effusion I would emptie all my veins rather then you should bleed one drop when as one blast of your breath is able to bring me to the haven where I would be My Lord I am grown an old man and am like old Househouldstuffe apt to be broke upon often removing I desire it therefore but once for all be it Eli or Bathe and Wells and I will spend the remainder of my dayes in writing an History of your good deeds to me and others whereby I may vindicate you from the envie and obloquy of this present wicked age wherein we live and whilest I live in praying for your Grace Whose I am totallie and finallie Theophilus Landaven The Bishop of Landaffe to the Duke My most honourable good Lord IT is meet before I beg a new that I should first acknowledge those benefits and more specially give thanks for the last noble favour your Lordship did me in standing up the last day of Parliament and pleading my cause Never was poor man more bound to a gracious Lord for protecting his innocencie and it came seasonable like a showr of rain in the time of drouth My very heart was parched with grief till it came and it had ere this been broken had not your Lordships speech then dropt comfort in strength whereof it yet lives For an abortive thought which never came into act some 2. or 3. years ago conceived and that tending to a work of mercy and charitie a deed of justice and due thankfulnesse how far how foulie have I been traduced your Honour cannot imagine how deeply I have been wounded in my good name as if I had deserved deprivation degradation yea to be hanged drawn and quartered This can none cure but God or the King Deus in monte God hath done his part in providing an occasion Besides London which is too high for me to look after and the removes which may be thereby Hertford the next Seat to mine whither my Predecessors have oft been removed is said to be now void Now good my Lord speak once more seasonably It is a doubled and
prayers for your health and happinesse as Yours c. E. H. The Lady Elizabeth Norris to the Duke My Lord EVer since your Lordships first recommendation of my husband to me I have thought my self much ingaged to your Lordship for I must confesse after he had taken his leave of me I did love him never the lesse for immediately after my fathers death when in my Conscience he least expected to hear from me I did both send and write to him which he might interpret an incouragement or rather an invitation I did it the rather because I did not believe those which did him ill offices for those which were most for him on a sudden were most against him I must confesse that pitie did confirm my affection and I trust your Lordship will commiserate his estate as you do the fall of all mankind for I was the Eva and he was the Adam and I pray God the King and your Lordship may forgive us as I am confident God will pardon us Your Lordship may imagine my Mother was of the plot but I take God to witnesse that she was not only against it but contrarily I did believe she was wholly for your Brother And for your Brother my Mother recommended him to me whom I used like a Gentleman of high worth and qualitie But I did by no means abuse him by promise or taking guifts which I falsely suffer for in the opinion of the world I only took a ring by my mothers appointment which came as a token from my Lady your mother which was of very small value My husband and I am resolved rather to suffer in the opinion of the world then contradict any thing which shall be aggravated against us We must both honour you and think our selves much ingaged to your Lordship After God I protest you are the onely authour of it for by your means I first settled my affection I know there are those which do my husband and me ill offices I have reason to be jealous of the Lord Montgomery for he would have put tricks upon me in making me deny the Contract and when he failed in that he went about to make me believe Mr. Wray had denied his And to tell your Lordship true his violence and over-earnestnesse made me the more averse If my husband had not fetched me I would have come to him and so I sent him word Thus humbly beseeching your Lordship as you are happie in your wife that you would be pleased to make our peace with the King and seeing it is Gods act that you would honour us with your favour We shall be both bound to joyn in prayer that you may be ever happie in your Wife and in your Childrens Children And so with my humble respect to your Lordship I rest Your Lordships humble servant Elizabeth Norris Sir Edward Cecyl to the Duke My very good Lord HOw much my affection and ambition hath been to serve your Lordship before other men I hope I shall not need now to expresse considering it hath been clear and manifest to your own trial whereof I do bear still the testimonie and the continuance in mine own heart But in your noblenesse it will not appear impertinent to your Lordship that I put you in mind how much I suffered in the disgrace my enemies cast upon me about the imployment for the Palatinate when I was under your protection whether I suffered for mine own sake or for your Lordship I know not howsoever of this I am assured the greatest cause I gave them that had least reason was because I sought not them but your Lordship only And for the successe you may see by the miracles the imployment hath brought forth that it was carried another way rather for private malice then for any great zeal to the advancement of the publique Cause Now my Lord for your own honour and for the upholding of your servant make me so happie if there be any imployment for men of my profession as there is opinion that I may be the man by your Lordships means wherein you shall make me your obliged as I am now your affectionate servant For which you shall be assured of as thankful heart as any breathes in the whole world In the enjoying of which kind of service though you are accounted the most happie among great men yet you cannot have too much of it I could remember your Lordship of his Majesties gracious promise for my imployment before any other in the presence of the Prince and your Lordship and that I am the first General his Majestie ever made and that I had no ill successe in the perfecting of that service yet for all this I will onely trust in your Noblenesse if you resolve to make me your Creature And if it shall please his Majestie to hold me worthy of this honour I will undertake to save his Coffers as I have heretofore done the sixth part of the imployments charge and cost that any other man shall require who makes not a computation for the managing of it by a sufficient expence of his own I will not write more at this time but to wish your Lordship as much happinesse as your heart can desire and that you will give me an occasion to shew how much I am and will be Your Lordships most faithful and affectionate servant Ed. Cecil From our Army this 20. of Novemb. Sir Edward Cecil to the Duke May it please your Excellency THis Gentleman Sir George Blundel hath now cleerly quitted the service of the States for this especial reason as he assures me to be the more absolutely imployed in your Excellencies service This I know his friends here that love him which are many are very sorrie to part with him for there is no melancholy where he goes And therefore considering the condition of this place we shall be great losers being upon a melancholy place and service ill payed sick of all diseases in the world in a place that is next neighbour to hell if the book printed say true which saith that the Low-Countriemen are next neighbours to the devil And I am sure we are now seated lower then any part of these Countries for the waters are above us and about us and we live in more fear of them then of the enemy for we may be drowned at an hours warning if we do not continually work against it and yet and it shall please your Excellencie this is the Seat for a Winter War Many more inconveniencies we are daily sensible of of which I have endured so much as I dare say without vanitie that few of my rank and fortune have suffered more or longer then I have done in these Countries having served these 27. years together without intermission and all this for no other end for I am 900 l. a year the worse for the Wars then to make me able to serve my Prince and Countrie when occasion should be offered But since the time is
wholly upon Spain so that this King will protect him in his Electoral dignity and what he hath lately possessed himself of in those parts This offer of the Dukes hath been several dayes debated in Councel where the Marquesse Ynoiosa hath been busie in the behalf of the Duke but the wiser part of this Councel seeing how prejudicial the increase of the Dukes greatnesse may prove to the Empire do no way favour his pretentions They likewise hold fit to continue the state of things in a possibility of an accommodation without our Master The Arch-Duke Don Carlos hath brought power from the Emperour to proceed to the consummation of a marriage betwixt the Emperours son and the Infanta Donna Maria wherein he sayes he hath nothing to Capitulate but brings them a blanck paper and hath power and order to confirm what conditions they shall here set down The Emperour's Embassadour doth much presse to proceed to the Capitulations but there is yet nothing done The Infanta of Brussels hath lately written hither importing this King to admit of a treaty of marriage betwixt the Prince of Polonia and the Infanta his Sister extolling with many expressions the worth and parts of that Prince There hath been some moneths a general stop of their proceedings here in all suites of English Merchants depending in this Court but I have at last procured a Junto to be assigned for the hearing of all English Causes wherein I am promised there shall be a speedy Resolution taken of whatsoever is at present in Question The Duke of Feria hath lately advertised hither from Millain that the French King and the Duke of Savoy do minister much occasion of jealousie that they intend to attempt some novelty in those parts and doth therefore desire that his Troops may be augmented whereupon above the ordinary charge there was instantly remitted unto him 2000. Duckets The great annual Assiento which this King makes with the Genoueses is newly concluded it is for 7. millions whereof 4. are remitted for Flanders to be paid by monethly portions In a late meeting of the Councel of State upon a discourse that passed amongst them taking into consideration this Kings wants and the present distemper of his affairs the Inquisidor General expressing how necessary a time it was for his Majesties Subjects to assist his present occasions made offer of 100 Duckets for his part which the Conde of Olivares followed with a tender of 300 the Conde of Monterrey of 100 all the rest of the Councel of State following their example gave according to their quality Notice being taken of this abroad the Condestable wrote a Letter unto this King wherein he made tender of 200 Duckets the Marquesse of Castel Rodrigo of 100 the Marquesse of Carpio of the like summe Divers others have likewise declared themselves in this donative and it is hoped that it will go over the whole Kingdome and bring in an extraordinary Treasure into the Kings purse Thus with the remembrance of my duty I rest Your Graces c. W A. Archbishop Abbots to Secretarie Nanton 12. Septemb. 1619. Good Mr. Secretarie I Have never more desired to be present at any Consultation then that which is this day to be handled for my heart and all my heart goeth with it But my Foot is worse then it was on Friday so that by advice of my Physitian I have sweat this whole night past and am directed to keep my bed this day But for the matter my humble advice is That there is no going back but a countenancing of it against all the world yea so far as with ringing of Bells and making of Bon-fires in London so soon as it shall be certainly understood that the Coronation is past I am satisfied in my Conscience that the Cause is just wherefore they have rejected that proud and bloody man and so much the rather because he hath taken a course to make that Kingdom not elective but to take it from the donation of another man And when God hath set up the Prince that is chosen to be a mark of honor through all Christendom to propagate his Gospel and to protect the oppressed I dare not for my part give advice but to follow where God leads It is a great honour to the King our Master that he hath such a Son whose virtues have made him thought sit to be made a King And me thinks I do in this and that of Hungary foresee the work of God that by piece and piece the Kings of the earth that gave their power unto the beast all the Word of God must be fulfilled shall now tear the Whore and make her desolate as St. John in his Revelation hath foretold I pray you therefore with all the spirits you have to put life into this businesse and let a return be made into Germany with speed and with comfort and let it really be prosecuted that it may appear to the World that we are awake when God in this sort calleth us If I had time to expresse it I could be very angry at the shuffling which was used toward my Lord of Doncaster and the slighting of his Embassage so which cannot but touch upon our Great Master who did send him and therefore I would never have a Noble Sonne forsaken for respect of them who truly aym at nothing but their own purposes Our striking in will comfort the Bohemians will honour the Palsgrave will strengthen the Union will bring on the States of the Low Countries will stirre up the King of Denmark and will move his two uncles the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Bovillon to-together with Tremoville a rich Prince in France to cast in their shares And Hungarie as I hope being in that same cause will run the same fortune for the meanes to support the war I hope Providebit Deus The Parliament is the old and honourable way but how assured at this time I know not yet I will hope the best certainly if countenance be given to the action many brave spirits will voluntarily go Our great Master in sufficient want of mony gave some ayde to the Duke Savoy and furnished out a prettie army in the cause of Cleve We must trie once again what we can be done in this businesse of a higher nature and all the mony that may be spared is to be turned that way And perhaps God provided the Jewels that were layd up in the Tower to be gathered by the Mother for the preservation of her Daughter who like a noble Princesse hath professed to her Husband not to leave her self one Jewel rather then not to maintain so religious and righteous a cause You see that lying on my bed I have gone too far but if I were with you this should be my language which I pray you humbly and heartily to represent to the King my Master telling him that when I can stand I hope to do his Majestie some service herein So commending me unto you I
breach of that word which he hath given to the world and without prejudice to that obedience which he oweth to the least commandement of the King his Father his Highnesse may be inabled to comply with the incomparable affection which he beareth the Infanta your Majesties Sister And that by meanes hereof the two Crowns may be kindly in perfect union and the Catholique religion may be highly advantaged not only in the Dominions of my Lord the King but in many other parts of Christendom into which the Authority of these Dominions doth flow For my part I take the eternall God to witnesse whom I procure to serve and who hath given me a heart which disclaimeth from all other interesses then to serve God and my King that I conceive my self not to comply with a good conscience without laying this protestation under the Eye of your Majestie that if the Catholique subjects of the King my Lord shall grow liable to persecution or affliction by occasion of breaking this Match through the disgust of the King my Lord and his Councel or through the power which infallibly the Puritans assembled in Parliament will have with him upon this occasion that blood or miserie whatsoever it may partly be required at their hands who have advised your Majestie not to accept of those large conditions for Catholiques which my Lord the King and the Prince have condescended to and of that more then moral Securitie which they have offered for the performance thereof And on the other side I undertake to your Majestie under the pain of infamie in case that be not made good which here I affirm that if your Majestie will be pleased to give some such ground to the Prince as whereupon he may with Honour stay and perfect the Treatie of the Marriage by any such way or means as may occur to your Majesties royal wisdom the whole bodies of the Catholiques in England both religious and secular shall acknowledge it as a great blessing of God and shall oblige themselves to pray incessantly for your happie Estate c. Sir Tobie Mathew to the Dutchesse of Buckingham 9. June 1625. Madam THere was no cause till now why I should trouble your Ladyship with presenting my unprofitable service to you but now I shall venture to do it by reason of the good newes I shall send with it For our Queen arrived here yesterday and I was glad at the heart to see her such as she had seemed she is more grown then I had thought being higher by half the head then my Ladie Marquesse And whatsoever they say believe me she sits already upon the very skirts of womanhood Madam upon my faith she is a most sweet lovely Creature and hath a countenance which opens a window into her heart where a man may see all Noblenesse and Goodnesse and I dare venture my head upon the little skill I have in Physiognomie that she will be extraordinarily beloved by our Nation and deserve to be so and that the actions of her self which are to be her own will be excellent Me thought I discerned in her countenance a little remnant of sadnesse which the fresh wound of parting from the Queen Mother might have made yet perhaps I was deceived Her Aattyre was very plain for so Great a Queen can be thought to have nothing mean about her But I hope that amongst many other blessings which God will have provided for us by her means her example will be able to teach our Countrie wit in this kind I had the happinesse to see and hear her at a short distance by the Commandement which my Lady of Buckingham laid upon me to interpret for her and believe me she is full of wit and hath a lovely manner in expressing it But I confesse I was sorrie with all my heart to hear that her courage was so great as to carry her instantly after my Ladie of Buckingham had taken her leave for that time to Sea in a poore little boate in the company of her brother whom yet I have not had the honour to see I dare give my word for her that she is not afraid of her own shadow who could find in her heart to put her self at the first sight upon an element of that danger and disease for meer pastime Unlesse it were perhaps that she might carrie some Steel about her and that there is some Adamant at Dover which already might begin to draw her that way I am extreamly sorrie that we have lost the hope of seeing the two other Queens for if they had come we might have had beautie here as well in the preterperfect and in the present tense as now we have in the future But the Queen Mothers indisposition hath arrested her at Amiens in punishment of that malice wherewith she dissembled it too long at the first through the extream desire she had of coming hither Our Queen received my Lady of Buckingham with strange courtesie and favour and now there is no remedy but that the King will needs defray and treat her after a high manner And I have been told that Mounsieur will needs descend so much as to visit her in her lodging and the Dutchesse of Chevereux being that great Princesse as she is both by match and bloud will perforce give precedence not onely to my Ladie of Buckingham but to my Ladies her daughters also And I assure my self that a lesse puissant example then this will serve to convert our Great Ladies even to exceed in England towards the Ladies which are strangers and do but come and go But the while this Court doth so apply it self to do my Lady of Buckingham all imaginable honour I look on it so as that I am no way discouraged thereby from bearing devotion to the blessed Virgin when I see that men who are sick of love towards the Son are put even by a kind of Law of nature into pain till they revenge themselves upon the Mother I beseech Jesus c. From Bulloign â— Dr. Sharp to King James The Complaint of Europe our Mother aged and oppressed TO whom To the Kings and Princes of Europe Of whom Of the Pope of Rome For what matter For causing by his Catholique League so much bloud to be spilt within these few yeares in Europe To this effect as that excellent Poet speaks with a little change of his words Quis non Europaeo sanguine pinguior Campus sepulchris impia praelia Testatur auditumque Turcis Europaeae sonitum ruinae Qui gurges aut quae flumina lugubris Ignara belli quo Mare Civicae Non decoloravere caedes Quae Caret ora cruore nostro And what further danger is it like to breed Even to bring the Turk into Austria Italy Germany into Vienna and into Rome it self as it hath brought him into Pannonia and of late into Pollonia to the great danger of all Christendome Which danger she doth foresee and lament and telleth That no European King
thereof I say that the same God who hath given me a mind to undertake may according to his good pleasure make me in it or it with me to prosper or die as it shall seem best unto him And so purposing that you shall see me return happy or never I take my leave a few days before my departure Let me be commended to your good selfe and such other of my good friends as in my absence you find I am beholding to especially to Sir Drew Drury and Sir Edward Waterhouse Your assured friend R. ESSEX Earle of Essex to Secretary Davison Iuly 11. 1589. SIR AS at my departure so upon my return I must needs salute you as one whom then and now and ever I must love very much I would gladly see you but I am tied here a while when I may have occasion to shew my love to you I will do more then I now promise In the mean time wishing you that happiness which men in this world ought to seek I take my leave At the Court this 11. of July 1589. Your assured Friend R. ESSEX Again to Secretary Davison SIR I Had speech with her Majesty yesternight after my departure from you and I find that the success of my speech although I hoped for good yet did much over-run my expectation To repeat many speeches and by-matters as of my acquaintance with you and such like it will be fitter for such a time when I shall have conference with you But in effect our end was thus I made her Majesty see what in your health in your fortune and in your reputation with the world you had suffered since the time that it was her pleasure to comit you I told her how many friends and well-wishers the world did afford you and how for the most part throughout the whole Realm her best subjects did wish that she would do her self the honour to repair for you and restore to you that state which she had overthrown your humble suffering of these harms and reverend regard to her Majesty must needs move a Princess so noble and so just to do you right and more I had said if my gift of speech had been any way comparable to my love Her Majesty seeing her judgment opened by the story of her own actions shewed a very feeling compassion of you she gave you many praises and among the rest that which she seemed to please her self in was that you were a man of her own choyce In truth she was so well pleased with those things that she spake and heard of you as I dare if of things future there be any assurance promise to my self that your peace wil be made to your own content and the desire of your friends I mean in her favour and your own fortune to a better estate then or at least the same you had which with all my power I wil imploy my self to effect And so in hast I commit you to God Your friend most assured R. ESSEX Earle of Essex to King James concerning Secretary Davison April 18. 1587. MOst excellent King for him that is already bound for many favours a stile of thankfulness is much fitter then the humour of suing but so it falls out that he which to his own advantage would have sought nothing in your favour but your favour it self doth now for another become an humble petitioner to your Majesty your Majesty cannot be such a stranger to the affairs of this Countrey but as you know what actions are done in this place so you understand the minds of the men by whom they are done Therfore I doubt not but the man for whom I speak is somewhat known to your Majesty and being known I presume of greater favour Mr. Secretary Davison fallen into her Majesties displeasure and disgrace beloved of the best and most religious of this land doth stand as barred from any preferment or restoring in his place except out of the honour and nobleness of your own Royall heart your Majesty will undertake his cause To leave the nature of his fault to your Majesties best judgement and report of your own servant and to speak of the man I must say truly that his sufficiency in Councell and matters of State is such as the Queen her selfe confesseth in her Kingdom she hath not such another his vertue religion and worth in all degrees is of the world taken to be so great as no man in his good fortune hath had more generall love then this Gentleman in his disgrace And if to a man so worthy in himself and so estemed of all men my words might avail any thing I would assure your Majesty would get great honour and great love not onely here amongst us but in all places of Christendom where this Gentleman is any thing known if you should now be the author of his restoring to his place which in effect he now is but that as a man not acceptable to her Majesty he doth forbear to attend I do in all humbleness commend this cause to your Majesty having the warrant of a good conscience that I know to be both honorable and honest and your Majesty to the blessed protection of that mighty God to whom will pray for your Majesties happy and prosperous estate He that will do your Majesty all humble service Greenwich April 18. R. ESSEX Earl of Essex to Mr. Secretary Davison SIR I Have as I could taken my opportunity since I saw you to perform as much as I promised you and though in all I have been able to effect nothing yet even now I have had better leisure to sollicit the Queen then in this stormy time I did hope for My beginning was as being amongst others intreated to move her in your behalf my course was to lay open your sufferings and your patience in them you had felt poverty restraint and disgrace and yet you shewed nothing but faith and humility faith as being never wearied nor discouraged to do her service humbleness as content to forget all the burthens that had been laid upon you and to serve her Majesty with as frank and willing a heart as they that have received greatest grace from her To this I received no answer but in generall terms that her honour was much touched your presumption had been intolerable and that she could not let it slip out of her mind When I urged your access she denied it but so as I had no cause to be afraid to speak again When I offered in them both to reply she fell into other discourse and so we parted So all that I have done you know what I shall do ye shall prescribe If you hear any mans else I pray you let me know for so I shall perceive whether she will open her heart more to me then them which being known I may deal accordingly And so I commit you to God Windsor Octob. 2. Your most assured friend R. ESSEX Again to Mr. Secretary Davison upon the
Contempts of sacred persons And having also observed that this so long continence of ours at so manifold injuries hath served to no other purpose but to make our enemies more audacious and insolent and that the compassion we have had of France hath drawn on the ruine of those whom God had put under the obedience of their Majesties For these considerations according to the power which we have received from his Imperiall Majestie we have commanded our Armies to enter into France with no other purpose then to oblige the King of France to come to a good secure Peace for removing those impediments which may hinder this so great a good And for as much as it principally concerneth France to give end to these disorders we are willing to believe that all the Estates of that Kingdome will contribute not only their remonstrances but also if need be their forces to dispose their King to Chastise those who have been the Authors of all these Warrs which these seven or eight years past have beene in Christendome and who after they have provoked and assayled all their neighbours have brought upon France all those evils which she doth now suffer and draw on her those other which do now threaten her And although we are well informed of the weaknesse and devisions into which these great disorders and evil counsels have cast her yet we declare that the intentions of their Mastjesties are not to serve themselves of this occasion to ruine her or to draw from thence any other profit then by that means to work a Peace in Christendom which may be stable and permanent For these reasons and withal to shew what Estimation their Majesties do make of the prayers of the Queene Mother of the most Christian King wee doe give to understand that we wil protect and treat as friends all those of the French Nation who either joyntly or severally shall second these our good designes and have given Order that Neutrality shal be held with those of the Nobility and with the Townes which shal desire it and which shal refuse to assist those who shal oppose the good of Christendome and their own safety against whom shall be used all manner of hostility without giving quarter to their persons or sparing either their houses or goods And our further wil is that all men take notice that it is the resolution of their Majesties not to lay down Arms til the Queene Mother of the most Christian King be satisfied and contented til the Princes unjustly driven out of their estates be restored til they see the assurances of peace more certain then to be disturbed by him who hath violated the treaties of Ratisbone others made before and sithence he hath had the managing of the affairs of France Neither do we pretend to draw any other advantage from the good successe which it shal please God to give unto our just prosecutions then to preserve augment the Catholick Religion to pacifie Europe to relieve the oppressed and to restore to every one that which of right belongeth unto him Given at Ments the fifth of July 1636. FINIS An Alphabeticall Table of the most Remarkable Things A AGnus Dei 38 Alchimie 75 Alchoran false because not to be disputed 194 Alfons d'Este turns Capuchin 243 Ancre Marquesse would get the Dutchy of Alanson and Constables Office into his hands in arere to the Crown of France for 80000 pounds 195 Anderson Edmund 73 Anne of Bullen Queen of England sues to King Henry that her enemies may not be her accusers and Judges protests her innocence declares the cause of the Kings change begs the lives of her brother and the other Gentlemen 9 10 Archbishop of Dublin affronted by the Friars 241 Ashton Sir Walter 130 132 138 139 Austria House 114 B. Bacon Sir Nicholas Lord Keeper 69. Antony Francis friends to the Earl of Essex 32. Francis after Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban his discourses to the Earl concerning Ireland 42 43 c. concerning Tyrone 44. his huge opinion of the Earl of Essex 45 46 47. against the Subsidie in Parliament how 54 68. makes wayes to get into King James his favour 56 58. expostulates with and advises Sir Edward Cook 60 61. expostulates with Sir Vincent Skinner 66. would be Sollicitor 68 69 71. his good services to the Crown 72 See Bodley Sir Thomas Balsac impudently abuseth King James and Qu. Elizabeth 198 199. flatters the French King grosly 200 201 Barbarians of old placed justice and felicity in the sharpnesse of their swords 47 Bavaria Duke linked with the House of Austria 135. designed Elector of Rhine 113. seiseth part of the Palatinate 131 Bevayr Chancellour of France discharged complains to the King of the Government 193 194 195 196. Commanded to discharge an account for 80000 li. 195. has no other fault but that he is an honest man 196 Bishops in what manner parts of the Common-wealth 5. submitted to Kings 6. chief against the Mass 233. too remiss 185 Bodeley Sir Thomas against Sir Francis Bacons new Philosophie 74 75 76. For setled opinions and Theoremes 76 77 78 Bouillon Duke 37 198 Bristol Earl See Digby Lord. Brograve Atturney of the Dutchy 69 Broke George 79 80 Brunswic Christian Duke 148 Buckingham Duke chosen Chancellor of Cambridg 213. unkindness between him and Bristol 151. and Olivarez ibid. murthered 220. See Charles King Burleigh Lord for Kings and against usurpation 136 C Caecil Sir Robert after Earl of Salisbury in France 36. a friend to Sir Francis Bacon 69 70 Caesar d' Este Du. of Modena 243 Calvinists dangerous 112 Cambridg differences betwixt the Town and Vniversity 223 Car Earl of Somerset 86 Carlo Don Infant of Spain 126 Carlo Alessandro of Modena 243 Carlton Sir Dudley Embassadour in the Low Countries 145 Caron Sir Noel Embassadour in England from the Low Countries 92 93 Cassal S. Vas beleaguered by the Spaniard 239 Causes of conscience growing to be faction 38 Charles King of great Brittain ingagement of his person in Spain cause why things were not carryed on to the height 151 See Gregory Pope His piety and care toward the Hugonots of France 206. acknowledged by them after the losse of Rochel 208 209. his opinion of the Duke of Buckingham 214 215. A great lover of the Vniversity of Cambridg 220 223. will rule according to the Laws wil give the Judges leave to deliver and bail prisoners according to Magna Charta and the Statutes 231. forbids hearing of Mass 232. careful to root out Papistry in Ireland 242. commands the house in Dublin to be pulled down where the Friars appeared in their habits 241 Charles the Fifth 145 Church Orders by K. James 193 of England its service damnable by the Popes decree 40 Clergy where punished 6 Cleves and Juliers pretended to 123 124 Clifford Sir Coniers 42 Coeur Marquess 240 Coke Sir Edward disgraces Sir Francis Bacon 60. described 62 63 Colledg of Dublin 52 Colomma Don
dispatched away a Post to Spain from Calice and by him gave as malicious an account of his usage at his departure from England and also of all other late passages there as malice it self could have dictated He omits no libels or infamous songs nor spares his own inventions where they may serve to incense The Credit they are like to give to their Embassadour the height of discontent they are now in the assurance given them of the weak and mean estate of all things in England may tempt them to offer the giving us a blow where we are weakest And therefore no necessary preparations for defence to be neglected on our part None of their Armado stirres yet but only 4. Gallions appointed to accompany for some daies the Nova Espagna Fleet that put to Sea the fourth of this present Sir Walter Aston doubts that the light he hath received of the present state of things in England and the Arguments to answer their Objections will hardly be applyed to give any satisfaction things being in so much distemper there And where the best answers on both sides are recriminations he conceives little is to be expected but a direct falling out The cause of their retarding Mendoza's coming for England hath been their desire to see the issue of the proceedings with their Embassadour All the Grandees and principal persons of Spain are summoned to give their attendance with their armes which is done by three Letters 1. Admonitoria 2. Apercibitoria 3. Executoria The two first are already set forth And there is order likewise given for the Battalon to be in a readinesse which is the same as the Trained Bands in England This is an ancient practise there upon suspition of forraign invasion or domestique Commotion There are leavies new making according to custome for supplying of Garrisons and though these Leavies are greater then usually yet not much worthy of note An Embassadour arrived there for Denmark his coming being given out to be to negotiate the businesse of the Palatinate and to make overtures for a Peace with Holland but if nothing be heard of this in England it is not like to be true A Request presented unto the King by a Consulta from the Inquisiter general c. to procure a Jubile from Rome for expiation of the late great Contempt done by a Frenchman to the Sacrament The King promiseth to do it and he the Queen and the whole houshold will endeavour to deserve it by fasting and other duties In his answer to the Consulta there is a passage that intimates his intention of looking abroad with his armes The Frenchman was condemned burnt publiquely and dyed a Roman Catholique There have been divers processions in expression of the general grief for that action The King Queen his Brothers and Sister with the Grandees and the Councel went in procession about the two square Courts of the Palace where there were 4. Altars built one by the Kings care the rest by the Queen the Infanta Cardinal Don Carlos and Dona Maria who joyned in the care of one of them The greatest riches of Diamonds and Pearls that were in the Churches thereabouts and in the Kings store were presented on those Altars and were at ten millions They intend to dispatch one Jaquesse Brones Secretary of the Councel of Flanders by post into England to bring Don Carlos warrant to come away and to stay Agent in England until the arrival of another Embassadour which will not be long They stay the giving out of the order for the free admittance of English Merchandizes until they see what will be done with their Ships in the Downs c. Sir Walter Aston to the Duke 20. of Octob. 1624. May it please your Grace I Assure my self that your Grace is very confident that I have not only pursued the Complaint which I here made against the Marquesse of Ynoisa with the duty of a Minister in obedience to the King my Masters Command but as passionately interested against his person who maliciously attempted to stain if it had been possible the honour of the Prince his Highnesse and your Graces my noblest friend And certainly my Lord I should be infinitely afflicted in not having brought this businesse to that issue which I thirsted after could I accuse my self of having omitted any thing that might have sharpned them here against him But the Conde of Olivarez with a strong and violent hand hath delivered the Marquesse from any exemplary punishment which would certainly have been inflicted upon him had he been left to the Councel of State and without care either of the King his Masters honour or engagement hath saved the Marquesse and left the envy of it upon his Majestie if the King our Master will so please to understand it In my last unto your Grace which was of the 24th of the last moneth I humbly intreated you to procure me his Majesties leave to return into England for some few moneths which suit I do here again renew unto your Grace Howsoever in respect of this novelty in the Marquesse his businesse I will forbear putting my self upon the way until I hear of the receipt of this dispatch since if his Majestie shall please to give any demonstrations here of his sence of their unworthy proceedings I would be loath that those Commands should find me out of the way with the remembrance of my duty I rest Your Graces c. Wa. Aston Sir Walter Aston to the Duke the 10th of Decemb. 1625. May it please your Grace THe Portugal Armado put to Sea on the 12th of the last moneth Stil Vet. It consists of 22. Ships of War 4. Victuallers and two small Pinnaces of Advice There goeth in it neer upon 4000. Land Souldiers From Cadiz I have now fresh advice That Don Frederique is still in the Port with the Fleet which he Commands but himself and his men all embarqued That Armado consisteth of some 35. Ships of War and about 8000. Souldiers and both the Fleets are victualled for 8. moneths That of Portugal had first order to expect Don Frederique at the Cape St. Vincent but hath since received command to proceed on the journey It being now 27. dayes since the Fleet dâ—parted and this remaining still in the Harbour doth give me much cause of jealousie especially understanding that they have here advice which they give credit to that the Troops lately delivered to Count Mansfelt are sent to succour Breda fearing if it be so that they laying hold of it as a breach of the Peace which interpretation I meet with in every discourse should presently fall with this Armado upon some part of Ireland I have no farther ground for this distrust then what I have here represented which your Grace weighing with the importancy of their enterprise in hand for the recovering the Baya and the occasions that will be given them from England do best know what rigid judgment to make Sithence I wrote my other Letter unto
believe they will hasten to finish this act before I shall hear from your Lordship which if they do God send me patience and as much care to serve him as I have and ever had to serve my Master And then all must needs be well I send your Lordship a Copy of that speech I have thought upon to deliver at London upon Munday next at the Commission of the Subsidies If his Majestie have leisure to cast his eye thereupon and to give direction to have any thing else delivered or any point of this suppressed I would be directed by your Lordship whom I recommend in prayers to Gods good guiding and protection And do rest c. The E. of Southhamptons Letter to the Bishop of Lincolne My Lord I Have found your Lordship already so favourable and affectionate unto me that I shall be still hereafter desirous to acquaint you with what concerns me and bold to ask your advice and councel which makes me to send this bearer to give your Lordship an account of my answer from Court which I cannot better do then by sending unto you the answer it self which you shall receive here enclosed Wherein you may see what is expected from me that I may not onely magnifie his Majesties Gracious dealing with me but cause all my friends to do the like and restrain them from making any extenuation of my errours which if they be disposed to do or not to do is impossible for me to alter that am not likely for a good time to see any other then mine own family For my self I shall ever be ready as is fit to acknowledg his Majesties favour to me but can hardly perswade my self that any errour by me committed deserved more punishment then I have had and hope that his Majestie will not expect that I should not confesse my self to have been subject to a Star-chamber sentence which God forbid I should ever do I have and shall do according to that Part of my Lord of Buckinghams advice to speak of it as little as I can and so shall I do in other things to meddle as little as I can I purpose God willing to go to morrow to Tychfield the place of mine confinement there to stay as long as the King shall please Sir William Parkhurst must go with me who hoped to have been discharged at the return of my Messenger from Court and seemes much troubled that he is not pretending that it is extream inconvenient for him in regard of his own occasions He is fearful he should be forgotten If therefore when your Lordship writes to the Court you would but put my Lord of Buckingham in remembrance of it you shall I think do him a favour For my part it is so little trouble to me and of so small moment as I meane to move no more for it When this bearer returns I beseech you return by him this inclosed Letter and beleive that whatsoever I am I will ever be Your Lordships most assured friend to do you service H. Southampton c. The Lord Keepers answer to the E. of Southhamptons Letter 2. August 1621. My Lord I Have perused your Lordships Letter and that enclosed I return back again And doubt nothing of my Lord Admirals remembring of you upon the first opportunity Great works as I hope this will be a perfect reconciling of his Majesties affections to you of your best studies and endeavours to the service of his Majestie do require some time They are but poore actions and of no continuance that are Slubbered up in an instance I know my Lord mens tongues are their own nor lieth it in your power to prescribe what shall be spoken for you or against you But to avoid that Complacentia as the Divines call it that itching and inviting of any interpretation which shall so add to your innocencie as it shall derogate from the Kings mercie which I speak as I would do before God had a great cloud of jealousies and suspitions to break through before it came to shine upon you This I take it is the effect of my Lords exhortation and I know it ever hath been your Lordships resolution How far you could be questioned in the Star-Chamber is an unseasonable time to resolve The King hath waved off all judgment and left nothing for your meditation but love and favour and the increasing of both these Yet I know upon my late occasions to peruse Presidents in that Court that small offences have been in that Court in former times deeply censured In the sixteenth of Edward the second for the Court is of great antiquity Henry Lord Beaumont running a way of his own about the invading of Scotland and dissenting from the rest of the Kings Councel because of his absenting himself from the Councel Table was fined and imprisoned though otherwies a most worthy and deserving Noble man But God be thanked your Lordship hath no cause to trouble your head about these meditations For if I have any judgment you are in a way to demean your self as you may expect rather more new additions then suspect the least diminution from his Gracious Majestie For mine own part assure your self I am your true and faithful servant and shall never cease so to continue as long as you make good your professions to this Noble Lord. Of whose extraordinary goodnesse your Lordship and my self are remarkable reflections The one of his sweetnesse in forgetting of wrongs the other of his forwardnesse in conferring of courtesies With my best respect to your Lordship and my Noble Lady and my Commendations to Sir William Parkhurst I recommend your Lordship c. The Lord Keeper to the Duke concerning the E. of South-hampton 2. Aug. 1621. My most noble Lord I Humbly crave your pardon for often troubling your Honour with my idle Lines and beseech you to remember that amongst many miseries my sudden greatnesse comes accompanied with this is not the least that I can no otherwaies enjoy the happinesse of your presence God is my witnesse the Lord Keeper hath often not without grief of heart envied the fortunes of a poor Scholar one Dr. VVilliams late Dean of VVestminster who was so much blessed in the free accesses in that kind as his Lordship without a great quantity of goodnesse in your self may scarse hope for This inclosed will let your Lordship understand that somewhat is to be finished in that excellent piece of mercy which his Majestie your hand guiding the Pencil is about to expresse in the E. of Southhampton It is full time his Attendant were revoked in my poor opinion and himself left to the Custody of his own good Angel There is no readier way to stop the mouthes of idle men nor to draw their eyes from this remainder of an object of Justice to behold nothing but goodnesse and mercy And the more breathing time you shall carve out between this total enlargement and the next accesse of the Parliament the better it
of his Majesties Person in all happinesse and prosperity in all humility I take leave And rest Your Honours Most faithfully to command Isaac Wake Turin 5 15 of Octob. 1619. Sir Isaac Wake to the Duke Right Honourable and my very singular good Lord IN these parts we have nothing of moment worthy the relating the storms which do vex our neighbours round about us keeping us here in calme and quiet as it were per antiperistasin Howsoever I am of opinion that we shall enter into the Dance either actively or passively before the next summer passe over All over Italy there doth raign a great dearth which did lately cause in Naples a dangerous Cullevation of the people against the Cardinal Zappata Vice-Roy who had somewhat to do to save himself from the fury of the Popolarzo In the State of Millan likewise some insurrections were beginning to be made in Novarra Allessandria and Cremona both for want of bread and for the insolencie of the Garrison Souldiers who having had no pay for many moneths did commit many violent excesses upon the people which did drive them into despair but those Commotions were appeased betimes and no great matter of Consideration hath ensued although there are some neighbour Princes who did stand aux Escoutes and would be ready to have acted a troublesome part if the scene had been ready The Duke of Parma hath imprisoned his natural son Don Octavio the mysterie whereof is not well known but it must needs be for some great matter because he did make shew to love him passionately The Infanta Isabella of Modena hath been in danger of her life by being surprized with a violent feaver neer the time of her child-birth from hence the Duke of Savoy sent his Physitians to help her and we hear now that she hath escaped that danger and is safely delivered of a daughter Count Mansfelt is grown formidable and doth daily increase in strength and reputation Although he hath hitherto intitled his armes unto the service of the King of Bohemia yet I believe he will neither disarm nor suspend his arms when he shall be commanded so to do by that King For being now intertained by the State of Venice with an honourable provision of 12000 Crowns per annum in peace during his life and the pay of 10000 Foot and 2000 horse in the time of War he will try what he can do for the infranchising of the Grisons when the affairs of the Palatinate shall be accommodated And if the Austriaci do not bend all their forces against him very speedily and break his Armie before it grow more strong he is like to give them a greater blow then they have had these many yeares That which he hath gotten already in Alsatia is much more worth then the lower Palatinate and although he hath hitherto made those people to swear Allegiance unto the King of Bohemia yet when the said King shall make his peace with the Emperour it may be doubted whether Count Mansfelt will resign up what he hath conquered and it is thought that he will either keep it for himself or intitle some other Prince thereunto The Austriaci were never so matched as with Count Mansfelt for he is a perpetual motion and doth not stand upon the defensive as others have done hitherto and lost by the bargain hut he is alwaies setting upon them and doth make War at their cost let them take heed how they proceed with him for he who hath nothing to lose is ready to hazard the Paquet upon all occasions And if he do chance to overthrow them once in battel they will run danger or lose all that they have in Germany Let me in all humility beseech your Lordship to continue me in the honor of your good opinion and to favour me with your honourable protection especially with a good word to my Lord Treasurer for the sending me some relief without which I cannot possibly subsist having for want of my pay consumed all that I had in the world God Almighty increase upon your Lordship all happinesse and prosperity as is unfainedly wished unto you by him that is Your Lordships most humble obliged Creature and Servant Isaac Wake Turin 13 23. of Febr. 1621. Sir Isaac VVakes Proposition for the King of Denmark IT seemeth that the Glorie of this State which at all times was great doth shine brighter now adayes since that besides so many Neighbouring Kings and Princes whereof some are in a made league with us and some do keep a good correspondence and all a good intelligence with us Now the friendship of your Highnesse is sought by the mighty King of Denmark a monarch of those nations that in time past have left their remembrance of their prowesse in Italie France Spain and in whole Europe behind them This Great King of the North who like a Second Atlas holds up the Artick-pole rich in treasure numerous in men dreadful for his invincible generosity and Courage doth here offer himself unto your Highnesse And acquainting you of his actions doth confidently promise you to stand firm and stout in the defence of the common cause if so be that he receive that assistance as he hath reason to expect from those that are interested in the same cause His Majestie of Denmark hath had from the King my Master as much as can be given and it is no small matter that his Majestie of great Brittain doth still continue the same assistance having withall still those great expences that are required for the surety of his Realmes and for the offence of the common enemie His Majestie of France hath also contributed to this good work somewhat and there is great hope that he will bring forth in a short time some fit remedie against this evill The Lords States do as much as they are able And the Princes of Low Saxonie do not want in their duties There remaineth now that your Highnesse put also your powerful hand to this work and with a vigorous succour worthie of your great heart do incourage all the rest to continue their Emprese The two Kings are not ignorant of the great sincerity wherewith this most Excellent State doth observe the capitulations made with Allies of the league and that rather then to be wanting in things agreed upon you have surpassed in necessarie provisions for the advancement of the designs and that you have not been partakers nor agreers of the treaty made at Moncon But that you do continue to keep some forces in your Dominions and likewise some troops in the Valtoline for the effecting as much as is in you of what was first thought fit and of the agreement of the League And as that generous resolution and constancie of this State is never enough praised so there is great hope that you will not bring this same in the reckoning of the two Kings who never will misse to praise the wisdome and generositie of this State though not obliged for
able and experienced Ministers as he had any and therefore his Majestie might peradventure think fit not to hear them alone They said his Majestie might alone hear a thousand Ministers of any Kings but if he should be otherwise pleased they well liked of the Princes being present but they said there were also other great Ministers of the Kings who wished not well to their Masters affairs I said There might therein be a mistaking or misunderstanding on their part for if the King their Master mean so really as they said I conceived that no body would be willing to remove his Majestie from those purposes and that good affection which he bore unto his dear Brother the King of Spain The Marquesse said in English The King was a good King and the Prince a good Prince but some of their Ministers they doubted were ill willers to them I asked if greater demonstrations of reality could be devised then had been given on the part of the King and Prince instancing in the Prince his going in Person into Spain They confessed it but as the times now were they said ill offices were done them I assured them That I neither knew nor understood of any neither did I ever hear them spoken of but with due respect had unto them as to the Ministers of a great King and his Majesties dear Brother They said their meaning was not that the ill offices were done to their Persons but to the great Businesses which a certain Person had shewed a willingnesse to disturb but they hoped that the intended amity between our Masters would hold and proceed neverthelesse I professed that I knew nothing to the contrary neither understood I the particular at which they aymed The Marquesse swore as he was a Christian he knew that the King his Master did so truly and really esteem his dear Brother the King of England and the Prince of Wales that if they needed part of his blood they should have it for their good But he complained that they could not have their Messages delivered nor returned from the King of late but qualified according to the pleasures of others I said They misconceived it for I thought they had no cause to complain seeing they now had or might have as I supposed the Kings Ear when they craved it in due and befitting times They seemed to deny it alledging That they could not get their Messages and Papers answered as aforetime I said When the Prince was in Spain they had free accesse to his Majestie whensoever they desired it Yea said the Marquesse in Latine Tunc but now he said the case was altered I said the King had given many testimonies to the world of his willingnesse to comply with their Master and Them And if either his Majestie or the Prince seemed now more reserved and deliberate in their actions then heretofore it might be that his Highnesse had learned that wary and circumspect proceeding in Spain where they are said to use it in matters of far lesse moment They smiled hereat and prayed me to continue my good intentions and respects towards them and to the joynt affairs of both our Masters I said I would alwaies serve the King my Master with a true and faithful heart and so far as should be agreeable to his desires and good liking I would to my small power be ready to serve them In Conclusion they said They came but to visit me but being come they could not choose but say something and touch upon businesse Arthur Chichester 22. of May 1624. Having made visits at sundry times to the Spanish Embassadours I do here under my hand declare what passed betwixt them and me so neer as my memory serveth lest in my absence any such ma ter should fall in question I now intending to travel for a space VVHen his Highnesse was in Spain being upon my journy in Scotland I went to Elie-House to take my leave of Don Carlos where Vanvail was present I expressing much joy of the match which in my mind would without all question be perfected did find no such humour nor inclination on their part which did much astonish me for they grumblingly did alleadge that the King my Master did perform nothing that he promised or how could any thing be expected the Infanta being here whereas nothing was performed the Prince being in Spain I besought them to do better offices then without reason to put jealousies betwixt my Master and theirs who would never have sent his son to Spain without a real intention Which onely act was reason sufficient to remove all doubts Yet did they still continue their challenge of divers Bracks specially anent the sending of ships to Scotland to bring away the two Dunkirkers and not perfecting such conditions as were promised to Catholiques I did intreat them again that such conceits of my Master might be removed for they might be confident of full performance of what he had promised by reason he had never broke his promise to any I desired them likewise to consider with what love our Prince was gone and what a stain it should be to the State of Spain if uncourteously he should return with distast Besides it might fall out to be the worst act that ever they committed where anent if they had love to their Master they would prove good Instruments What was spoke by me in English was related in Spanish to Don Carlo so was it to me what they spoke in Spanish Sometimes Don Carlo spoke in French so that not a word passed which each man did not know I went again after the Treaties were given up and did remember Don Carlo of what I had forespoke when the Marquesse was present and took the speech they did demand of me whether I was come of my self or by Commission for they professed to account me their friend I answered that I came meeâ—ly of my self and was sorrie that by their own deserving they had procured such alterations and I thought strange of such demands as they had made at Hampton Court which did both expresse much spleen and lack of good intelligence They did avow their demands were reasonable but from that time they would make visits to the Duke and love him better then before because they were in doubt before but now they know him to be an Enemie I did answer that I was sorrie for their proceeding and was their friend so long as they were friends to my Master After a few haughty words such as it was a wrong waie to deal with their Master by threatnings who gave pay daily to 300000. Souldiers that they had followed the wars a long time and had seen men killed by the Cannon Musket Pike and sword but never saw men killed with words they desired me to speak to his Majestie that they might either be dismissed or have freedome to go about their businesse with security They did desire me likewise to speak to his Majestie that the treatie
for the Palatinate might continue I did demand of them how these two things did agree both to threaten and intreat whereupon they passed upon me with odd complaints I went once more of late to give them a farwel I said they proved themselves good Servants to their Master in pressing to raise jealousies in this State but they were now too well known to do harm The Marquesse swore that by this time the Infanta had been here the Palatinate restored if the blame had not been on our Part. I did intreat I might be excused not to believe that I did ask whether they did not condemn their own judgments in accusing the Duke of Buckingham of that whereof he was cleared both by the King and State Their answer was He was cleared by those who were his confiderates all as guiltie as himself I demanded why they should still expresse their malice against the Duke of Buckingham Did they not think but our Prince was a man sensible of what injuries he had received their answer was if the Duke were out of the way the Prince would be well disposed They said farther his Highnesse was an obedient son before the Duke guided him but since he was not So that when we speak of his Majestie they speak with much respect but for the Prince did not use them kindly they did make the lesse accompt of him So after I took my leave and parted Nithisdail MUch I have omitted for brevitie wherein they did expresse much respect to his Majestie much of their threatning to the Duke of Buckingham The Lord Nithisdail to the Duke 22 June 1624. My most Noble Lord FInding matters at great uncertainty when I came hither I resolved to make farther tryal before I should part from hence What thanks is due to the Embassadours for their paineful and discreet Carriage can hardly be expressed Matters now being drawn to such a conformity which I confesse I thought impossibilities though withall I found much respect alwayes to the Prince with a sensible desire of the Match expressed both by the King and those I spake withal our Embassadours seem still to be discontent that all things are not remitted to our Masters verbal promise which though it may be assurance sufficient to all Catholiques who have the sence to consider that it must be our Masters and the Princes gracious disposition must be our safety more then either word or writ yet the writ being desired privately as they pretend merely to draw the Popes consent without the which nothing is to be finished the difference is not so great their Princely promise being given already What cause of jealousie the refusing hereof should procure you may consider besides my judgment failes me if a more easie way shall be assented unto upon this side If the Embassadours have bestirred themselves to get this out of the publique Articles I can bear witnesse Thus much I dare avow that neither time nor place have been omitted by them to do good though I must confesse what intelligence I had in the proceeding hath rather been from the French then from them Their Reasons as I conceive was their doubts that did bring me hither having neither Letters from the King the Prince nor your Grace Whereupon to remove these conceits I shewed them that I did onely take this in my way intending to go see the Jubilees wherewith though his Majestie nor the Prince neither yet your Grace were acquainted with at my parting you will be pleased to make my excuse I am infinitely beholding to the Embassadours noble Courtesie which I know hath proceeded from that relation which they know I have to you My Lord let the happinesse which shall come to the Prince by matching with such a Lady as I protest before God hath those perfections to my thinking can hardly be equalled be a means to hasten a happy Conclusion And let not matter of Ceremonie draw delayes where the substance is agreed upon So shall all that belong to our Master be made happy in general and you in particular for that love which thex expresse here to your self Once more I humbly begg you will consider particularly upon each one of the Articles and I hope you shall not find such unreconcileable difference as an affected Puritan may pretend Whereupon if I have looked more with eyes of a Papist then was fitting it is my lack of judgment and not of zeal to my Masters Honour which of all earthly things shall be preferred Beseeching God to give a happy successe hereunto with a sound recovery of your own health I humbly take my leave Your Graces Faithful servant Nithisdail Dated at Compion Sir Tobie Mathew to the King of Spain DOn Tobea Mathei Cavallero Yngles y Catholico Romano beseecheth your Catholique Majestie with all humility and reverence to give him leave to speak these few words unto you He understandeth that the Theologos have persisted precisely upon the Voto which they gave before and he findeth clearly that the Prince conceiveth that he can by no means submit himself thereunto with his Honour And besides my Lord the King hath expresly required him to return with all possible speed in case that Voto should not be qualified And it is certain that he will depart for England within very few daies And whosoever shall inform your Majestie that the Treatie of this marriage may be really kept on foot after the departure of the Prince upon these terms doth deceive your Majestie through the ignorance wherein he is of the State of England So that the Prince departing thus the Catholique Subjects of all my Lord the Kings Dominions are to be in lamentable case For although the Prince did yesterday vouchsafe to have Compassion of me in respect of the grief wherein he saw I had upon these occasions and to say That although the marriage were broken yet he would procure that his Catholique Subjects should not fare the worse for that yet I know that it is morally impossible for that honourable design of his to take place in respect of the People and the importunitie and malice of the Puritans and especially because it will now be a case of meer necessitie for my Lord the King to run in a course of very straight Conjunction with them of his Parliament that he may be able the better to serve himself of them in other occasions from which Parliament as now the case will stand what Catholique can expect any other then the extreamitie of rigour In consideration whereof I cast my self with a sad heart at the feet of your Majestie beseeching you that you will take into your royal remembrance the love which you owe and procure to paie to our holy Mother the Church and that some course may be taken and with speed for otherwise it will be too late to give the Prince some foot of ground upon which he may be able to stand in such sort as that without losse of honour and
honour to entertain the Queen Mother She was willing to know upon what terms stood our Spanish alliance I told her that their delayes had been so tedious that they had somewhat discouraged the King and had so wearied the Prince and State which the dilatorie proceedings in it as that Treatie I thought would soon have an end She streight said of marriage taking it that way I told her I believed the contrarie and I did so the rather because the Spanish Embassadour hath given it out since my comming that the Alliance is fully concluded and that my journey had no other end then to hasten his Master unto it only to give them Jealousies of me because he at this time feares their dispositions stand too well prepared to desire and affect a conjunction with us And truly his report and instruments have given some jealousies to the persons of power in this State especially since they find I can say nothing directly unto them yet thus much I have directly from them Mounsieur de Vievielle and others but he is the chief guider of all affaires here That never was the affection of any State so prepared to accept all offers of amitie and alliance so we will cleerly and as disingaged persons seek it as is this but as a wise minister he saies that until we have whollie and truly abandoned the treatie with Spain they may lose the friendship of a brother in law that is alreadie so in hope of gaining another that they may fail of But when we shall see it reallie by a publique Commission that may declare all dissolved that touches upon the way of Spain we shall then understand their hearts not to be capable of more joy then that will bring them And the Queen Mother told me she had not lost those inclinations that she hath heretofore expressed to desire her Daughter may be given to the Prince with many words of value unto the King and person of the Prince and more then this she could not she thought well say it being most natural for the woman to be demanded and sought It is most certain that under-hand Spain hath done all that is possible to procure this State to listen to a crosse-marriage but here they are now so well understood as this baite will not be swallowed by them This I have from a grave and honest man that would not be brought to justifie it therefore he must not hear of it It is the Savoy Embassadour that is resident here a wise and a Gallant Gentleman who vowes this to be most true So general a desire was never expressed as is here for alliance with us and if the King and Prince have as many reasons of State at this time besides their infinite affection here to have it so continued let it be roundly and clearly pursued and then I dare promise as respective and satisfactorie a reception as can be imagined or desired And if it were not too much saucinesse for me to advise I could wish that the propositions of a league and marriage may not come together but may be treated a part For I doubt whether it may not be thought a little dishonourable for this King to give his sister conditionallie that if he will make war upon the King of Spain his brother we will make the alliance with him on the other part if the league should be propounded here with all those reasons of State that are now pressing for them to make it they have causes to doubt and so have we too that we may both be interrupted in that for certainly the King of Spain will if he can possibly please one side the which they think here may be us with the restitution of the Palatinate and we may likewise fear may be them with the rendring of the Valtoline these being the only open quarrels we must ground upon Now as long as these doubts may possesse us both this will prove a tedious and jealous work of both sides But if we fall speedily upon a treatie and conclusion of a marriage the which will find I am perswaded no long delayes here neither will they strain us to any unreasonablenesse in conditions for our Catholiques as far as I can find then will it be a fit time for to couclude a league the which they will then for certain do when all doubts and feares of fallings off are by this conjunction taken away and the necessity of their own affaires and safety will then make them more desire it then we and so would they now if they could think it so sure and so honourable for them For the King of Spain hath so imbraced them of all sides as they fear and justly that he will one day crush them to their destruction My Lord I do not presume to say any thing immediately to the King thorough your hands this I know will passe unto him and if he should find any weaknesse in this that I have presumed to say let the strength of your favour exercise those accustomed Noblenesses that you have alwayes expressed unto Your Graces most humble and obliged Servant Kensington Postscript VVIthin these few dayes your Grace shall hear again from me for as yet I have not seen the King no otherwise then the first night I arrived here This night he is come unto the Town again The Lord Kensington to the Prince 26. February 1624. May it please your Highnesse I Find here so infinite a value of your Person and virtue as what Instrument so ever my self the very weakest having some commands as they imagine from you shall receive excesse of honours from them They will not conceive me scarce receive me but as a publique Instrument for the service of an Alliance that above all the things in this world they do so earnestly desire The Queen Mother hath expressed as far as she thinks is fit for the honour of her Daughter great favour and good will in it I took the boldnesse to tell her the which she took extreamly well that if such a proposition should be made your Highnesse could not believe that she had lost her former inclinations and desires in it She said your trust of her should find great respect there is no preparation I find towards this businesse but by her and all perswasions of amitie made light that look not towards this end And Sir if your intentions proceed this way as by many reasons of State and wisdom there is cause now rather to presse it then slacken it you will find a Ladie of as much Lovelinesse and Sweetnesse to deserve your affection as any creature under Heaven can do And Sir by all her fashions since my being here and by what I hear from the Ladies it is most visible to me her infinite value and respect unto you Sir I say not this to betray your belief but from a true observation and knowledge of this to be so I tell you this and must somewhat more in
way of admiration of the person of Madam for the impressions I had of her were but ordinary but the amazement extraordinary to find her as I protest to God I did the sweetest Creature in France Her growth is very little short of her age and her wisdom infinitely beyond it I heard her discourse with her Mother and the Ladies about her with extraordinary discretion and quicknesse She dances the which I am a witnesse of as well as ever I saw any Creature They say she sings most sweetly I am sure she looks so Sir you have thousands of servants here that desire to be commanded by you but most particularly the D. of Chevereux and Mounsieur Le Grand who seek all opportunities to do you service and have Credit and power to do so Sir if these that are strangers are thus ambitious of your Commands with what infinite passion have I cause to beg them that am your Vassal and have no other glory but to serve you as your Highnesse c. Kensington Postscript SIr The obligations you have unto this young Queen are strange for with that same affection that the Queen your sister would do she asks of you with all the expressions that are possible of joy for your safe return out of Spain and told me that she durst say you were wearie with being there and so should she though she be a Spaniard yet I find she gives over all thought of your Alliance with her sister Sir you have the fortune to have respects put upon you unlookt for for as in Spain the Queen there did you good offices so I find will this sweet Qeeen do Who said She was sorry when you saw them practise their Masques that Madam her sister whom she dearly loves was seen at so much disadvantage by you to be seen afar off and in a dark room whose person and face hath most lovelinesse to be considered neerly She made me shew her your Picture the which she let the Ladies see with infinite Commendations of your Person saying She hoped some good occasion might bring you hither that they might see you like your self The Lord Kensington to the Duke My Lord YEsternight being Sunday I arrived safe here at Paris I was informed as soon as I came that the King was resolved after sight of the Queens Masque that was to be performed that same night that he would go a private journey for 5. or 6. daies to Shautelie a house of Mounsieur de Memorancies Being desirous therefore to kisse his hands before his going and to see the Court in that glory and lustre as must for certain be found upon such an extraordinary occasion I went to the Louure to the D. of Chevereux Chamber where I found him and his Ladie apparrelling themselves for the Masque and in such infinite riches of Jewels as I shall never be a beholder of the like worn by Subjects I had not been there above an hour but the Queen and Madam came thither where they staid a great while And it was observed that Madam hath seldom put on a more cheerful then that night There were some that told me I might guesse at the cause of it My Lord I protest to God she is a lovely sweet young Creature Her growth is not great yet but her shape is perfect and they all swear that her sister the Princesse of Piemount who is now grown a tall and a goodly Ladie was not taller then she is at her age I thought the Queen would have put a fashion of reservation upon me as not pleased with the breach and disorder of the Spanish Treatie but I found it far otherwise She is so truly French as it is imagined she rather wishes this alliance then with her own sister The King that was so early to go out of the Town took his rest while the Ladies were making themselves ready but as soon as he waked he sent for me and purposed to have received me as an Embassadour But I intreated the D. of Chevereux before I went to let him understand that I came as an humble and thankful servant onely to kisse his Majesties hands and had no other end then to do him service He then received me with much freedom and cheerfulnesse with many questions how the King is satisfied with his Present by Mounsieur de Bonevan who when I related the Kings liking and value of it he was infinitely pleased He commanded me to attend him to the Masque which was danced by 16. of the greatest Princesses of France St. Luke only being by the Queen received amongst them to put a singular honour and value upon her The King with his Brother had danced a Masque the last Tuesday with the same number of persons of the best quality who this night were to cast Lots who should dance with the sixteen Ladies they onely being allowed to dance with them And all those were so infinitely rich in Jewels embroiderie of gold and silver being here forbidden as they had almost all imbroidered their cloathes as thick with Diamonds as usually with purle I cannot give your Lordship any particular account of my service in any thing yesternight being an unproper time for any such thing But I am advised by the Prince Jenvile to stay here till the Kings return and I shall understand how all things stand and that no mans affection is so straight and true for the service of the King and Prince as his is who of himself falls into passionate wishes for an Alliance but tells me in much libertie they have been informed the cause and plot of my journey was to set an edge upon Spain rather to cut off their delaies then to cut the throat of the businesse But I gave him great satisfaction in that point My Lord these are passages of my first nights being here matters of ceremonie and yet I omit much of that I thought these too slight to trouble his Majestie or the Prince with yet I thought it fit since this Messenger goes to let you see this outward show and face of this Court to have as much sweetnesse smoothnesse and clearnesse towards our designs as is possible My next Letters shall inform you of a further search made by me the which I am confident will be of the same nature And I conceive it the rather because I find them in a great alarum at the newes that they have received from Leige that the King of Spain makes a Fort upon the ruine there to command both that and the Town This they say hath made them more clearly see his vast ambition to inlarge his Monarchie and do all speak the careful and honest language of our Lower house men how it may be prevented I have said enough the Messenger I dare say thinks too much yet this I will add That I will study to make it appear to the world and your self by a thankful heart and to God himself in my prayers for your Lordship that
propounded unto him from the King of Great Brittain he would most heartily and affectionately receive it but this was with such a fashion of Courtesie as shewed that he desired cause to have said more and I am fully satisfied not onely from him but the Queens and most of all of Madam her self who shewes all the sweetnesse and contentment that may be and likewise from all the Officers of the Crown and State that they can desire nothing equal with this alliance A better and more large preparation then this my instructions cannot make and I wonder to see it thus fair considering the hinderances and defacings the Spanish Embassadour desires to cast upon it who besides the Rodomontado's and threatenings of the preparations of his Master doth here take a contrary but cunning way letting them know that the Prince cannot have two Wives for their Infanta is surely his onely to create a jealousie and shienesse in them towards me that he suspects labours to do offices that are not to his liking You will therefore I hope speedily put this State out of these doubts and clearly and freely proceed with them Upon my credit and reputation they are all of that disposition that we can wish them to be and it appears by their tender care of the States and their resolution to ayd them And likewise in sending Captain Coborn that came from the Duke of Brunswick to demand a supplie of men who is returned with answer unto him that he shall have double what he required and great satisfaction to the Count Mansfelt that sent a Gentleman hither to let the King know he was not yet in such disorder but that he could assemble his Troops to such a number as might do his Majestie good service if he would be pleased to take him into his protection and favour And the King hath sent a Gentleman of the Religion a Sedanois to Leige to give information to this State of the proceedings of the Spaniards there and to be ready to receive if the Town shall seek it the protection of them But these passages I am sure you continually understand from our Embassadour the which makes me omit many particularities in this kind that I could inform you of I have sent this Bearer of purpose the which I beseech your Grace return with some speed and with him the resolutions of our dear and Sacred Master whom God ever blesse and keep to our glorie and comfort My Lord I am The humblest and most obliged of all your Graces servants Kensington The Lord Kensington to the Secretary the Lord Conway Right Honourable ACcording to his Majesties order which your last of April the 14. derived unto me I have represented such reasons to the King and his ministers of State here against the sending of any person in what quality soever to the Duke of Baviers as they acquiesce in them speciallie for that they come commanded under his Majesties desire which they professe to be very willing to comply with not only in this but in any other occasion wherein his Majestie may directly or indirectly be any way interessed I took the same opportunity of preparing the way a little farther to a formal treaty of alliance by feeling once again their pulse in matters of religion and find that it beats so temperately as promises a very good Crisis of any thing that may concern that particular I dealt plainely with the Marquesse de la Veiville touching the course that his Majestie may be driven to hold against Jesuites and Priests of banishing them the Kingdom and of quickning the lawes against the other Catholiques as well out of necessity of reducing them within the bounds of sobriety and obedience as of keeping good intelligence with his Parliament without which he could not possibly go thorough with such a weighty work as he is now to undertake He approved of the course for the ends sake under hope notwithstanding that his Majestie would not tie his own hands from some moderate favour hereafter which is all they pretend unto and desire it may flow from the mediation of this State upon an alliance here for the saving of their honour who otherwise will be hardly reputed Catholiques In representing a facility in these things I leave no other difficulties to be imagined Their good inclination to the match in general they are willing to demonstrate as by many other evidences so by the care they are now under of lodging and defraying my Lord of Carlile and my self in a more splendid and Magnifique manner then ever yet they did any Embassadour whatsoever for such is the language that Ville-aux Cleres holds to me upon that subject The Count of Soissons sees it and stormes and manifests his discontent towards me who am the instrument more fellie then discreetly I encountred him the other day and gave him the due that belonged to his rank but instead of returning me my salute he disdainfullie turned back his head I was somewhat sensible thereof and I told Mounsieur de Grandmont of it and as he and I were discoursing of it the day following Soissons offered himself full butt upon us a second time I again repeated my courtesie and he is childish in civility Grandmont found it strange and intimated to the Marquesse de la Valette a familiar and confident of the Counts both my observation and his own distaste of such an uncivil kind of proceeding Valette conveyes the same to Soissons himself who answered that he could not afford me a better countenance not for any ill will he bore unto my person but to my errand and negotiation which were it not in the behalf of so great a Prince went so near his heart as he professed he would cut my throat if he could Nay were any Prince of Savoy Mantova or Germany here in person to sollicit for themselves in the like nature he would hazard his life in the cause Such is the language that despaire brings forth which put me into an expectation of no lesse then a challenge to decide the quarrel And I once verily believed it sent for the Count de Lude came very soberly to me and told me he had a message to deliver me from a great Personage which he intreated he might do without offence I desired him to speak freely what it was and from whom He told me he was sent by the Count of Soissons and I presently replyed that nothing should come amisse from him In conclusion the errand was to signifie an extream liking that the Count took to one of my Horses which he was desirous to buy of me upon any rate I answered that if the Count would expresse to me his desire himself and receive him of guift he should be at his service otherwise he should remain still as he was Since that I have met him been prevented with a very courteous salute from him I have been thus ample in these particular passages betwixt the Count and
fear the Protestants may imagine we have had a hand in it For our Confederation made by you at the Hague they speak so of it as they will do something in it but not so really or friendly as we could wish But for these things you allow me I trust to refer you to the general Dispatch I come now to other particulars I have been a careful Spie how to observe intentions and affections towards you I find many things to be feared and none to be assured of a safe and real welcome For the continues in his suspects making as they say very often discourses of it and is willing to hear Villanes say That hath infinite affections you imagine which way They say there is whispered amongst the foolish young Bravado's of the Court That he is not a good Frenchman that suffers to return out of France considering the reports that are raised many such bruits flie up and down I have since my coming given Queen Mother by way of discourse occasion to say somewhat concerning your coming as the other night when she complained to me That things were carried harshly in England towards France I then said That the greatest unkindnesse and harshnesse came from hence even to forbid your coming hither a thing so strange and so unjust as our Master had cause and was infinitely sensible of it She fell into discourse of you desiring you would respect and love her daughter and likewise that she had and would ever command her to respect you above all men and follow all your Councels the matter of her Religion excepted with many professions of value and respect unto your Person but would never either excuse what I complained of or invite you to come upon that occasion But though neither the businesse gives me cause to perswade your coming nor my reason for the matter of your safetie yet know you are the most happie unhappie man alive for is beyond imagination right and would do things to destroy her fortune rather then want satisfaction in her mind I dare not speak as I would I have ventured I fear too much considering what practises accompany the malice of the people here I tremble to think whether this will find a safe conveyance unto you Do what you will I dare not advise you to come is dangerous not to come is unfortunate As I have lived with you and only in that enjoy my happinesse so I will die with you and I protest to God for you to do you the least service c. Postscript HAve no doubt of the partie that accompanied me for he is yours with his soul and dares not now as things go advise your coming Mr. Lorkin to the Duke the 30. of August 1625. May it please your Grace FRom an honest and truly devoted heart to receive the sacrifice of most humble thanks which come here offered for that excesse of favour which I behold in those gracious lines that you are so nobly pleased to honour me withal and which derive unto me farther the height of all contentment his Majesties gracious acceptance of my poor endeavours which howsoever they cannot shoot up to any high matter from so low an earth yet in their greatest force are eternally vowed with the price of my dearest blood as to his Masters faithful service in the first place so to your Graces in the next who have received I doubt not ere this what my former promised in the Savoyard Embassadours behalf and that as well from his own pen as mine But this State is very Euripus that flowes and reflowes 7. times a day and in whose waies is neither constancie nor truth The changes your Grace will find in my Letters to my Lord Conway whereunto I therefore make reference because I suppose there will be but one Lecture thereof to his Majestie and your self Therein likewise your Grace will see a suddain comandement laid upon Mounsieur de Blanvile premire Gentilhome de la chambre du Roy speedily to provide himself to go extraordinary Embassadour into England The cause thereof I rove at in my dispatch taking my aime from two darke speeches to Queen Mother and the Cardinal I have since learned the interpretation of the riddle not from the Cardinals lips who yet being sounded by me pretended a further end then Ville-aux-cleres had done viz to entertain good intelligence betwixt the Queen of England and your Grace and to do you all the best offices and services that are possible but from the Duke de Chevereux who whatsoever pretexts may be taken makes the true ends of that Voyage to be first to try whether this man can mend what they conceive here the Duke hath marred in shewing himself more a servant to the King of England then to his own King and Master Secondly to spie and discover what he can and according as he shall find cause to frame Cabals and factions whereunto he is esteemed very proper being charactarized with the marks of a most subtile prying penetrating and dangerous man And therefore as an Antidote against the poison he brings the Duke gives this Caveat aforehand That every one keep close and covert towards him and avoid familiaritie with him though otherwise he wishes a kind and honourable entertainment Thus much I received from the Dukes own lips yesternight Bonocil being witnesse perhaps Counsellour of all that passed he promised a memorial in writing this day which I have attended till this evening and even now receive it I have not touched the least syllable hereof to my Lord Conway because I think both your Graces and the Duke de Chevereux's will may concur in this that these things be not subject to many eyes Even now the Savoyard Embassadour sends an expresse Messenger unto me to hasten to Fountain-Bleau Perhaps it may be to facilitate the Treatie with Rochel by either some Letter or Journey of mine thither But upon the conference I have had with the Duke de Chevereux I shall temporise till I hear his Majesties pleasure or see good evidences of generous effects like to ensue Being desirous to shape my course so as may be most acceptable to his Majestie and pleasing to your Grace whose virtues I adore in qualitie of Your Graces Most humble most faithful and most obedient servant Tho. Lorkin Postscript THe Duke de Chevereux expects the Cypher from your Grace if I be not deceived Mr. Lorkin to the Duke 17. September 1625. May it please your Grace TO read and consider two contrary advertisements the one given me on Munday evening by des Porches who repeating what he had told me before D'avoir destrompé la Royne mere en mil et mil choses assured me that her thoughts were now so far changed from what they were as she remitted every thing to his Majesties pleasure to do what he list provided that he attempted not upon the conscience of the Queen her Daughter which was the only point she was tender in and
Carleton Sir Dudley Embassadour in the Low-Countries 317. writes to reconcile Sir Horatio Vere and Sir Edward Cecyl 323. his prudence to reunite England and the States 331 332 Carone Sir Noel Embassador in England from the Low-Dutch 321-325 Cavendish 97 Cecyl Sir Edward General 128 345. sues for Command will save the King in Expences 128. a loser by his service 129. see 345. See Vere Sir Horatio Viscount Wimbledon commands in chief at Sea neglected malitiously accused examined 135 137 138 Charles Prince of Wales King of England after how entertained and honoured in Spain 14 15 16. Not to be shaken in Religion contrary to Conde Gondomar's Information to his Master 15. got the love of all men in Spain 16 22 159 Will not proceed in the Match without restitution of the Palatinate and Electoral dignity 17 35 36 Displeased with the Earl of Bristol for raising an opinion among the Spaniards of his willingnesse to become Roman Catholique and his offers of seducing that way 17 will not be bargained with for future favours 18. will not be drawn to things but freely 18 His affability patience constancy 22 his civil and wise Reply to the Popes Letter 215 No lover of women 237 Defends the Duke of Buckinghams actions as done out of politick Compliance for the Palatinate cause 228 229 230 will favour as he pleases will grant the Lords and Commons all things fair and honest 230 Ill used by delayes in Spain his Voyage thither censured 288 289 3â—4 Chevereux Duke a servant of the Prince of Wales 277 278 230. See 300 301. Chichester Sir Arthur distrusted by the Duke 243 his conference with the Embassadours of Spain 244 245 Chidley a Sea Captain 141 Churchman an homicide 12 55 56 Church of England Reformed 116 Church differences Judges of them 117 Clerk Edward 306 307 Cleves and Juliers the succession of them pretended to 317 Coborn a Captain of the Duke of Brunswick 283 Contracts ever before Marriage where 106 107 Coke Sir Edward 104 122 Conde imprisoned 176 Conference betwixt Don Francisco and the Lord Keeper 86 87. betwixt Sir Arthur Chichester and the Spanish Embassadours 244. the Earl of Nithisdail and them 247 Confession of Don Pedro concerning the Armada of 88. 259 Conway Lord Secretary advises the Earl of Bristol 19 estranged from the Lord Keeper Lincoln 89 a Martial Secretary 198 enough the Dukes servant 316 Cordova Don Gonzales 328 329 Corona Regia See Libel Cottington Sir Francis 23 81 Councel Table of King James somewhat too much pressing upon the King 75 Courtenvant Marquesse 286 Coxe King Edward the sixt his School-master Master of Requests and Privie Councillour enters Orders 68 Cromwel Lord Counsels the Duke 263. D. DEnbigh Countesse 302 Denmark King his offers 190 191. Dispensation with a Lay-man to hold cure of soules cannot be 66 67 Dominican Fryer turns to the English Church 79 Don Francisco's Discourse to the Lord Keeper 86 87 90 91 92 93 His cunning to speak with King James 90. Accuses the Duke of Buckingham 90 91 Donato a Venetian Embassadour gives the lye to the Duke of Savoy an enemy to Paul the Father of Venice 187 banished once at Venice twice in England 192 Don Doctour 314. presents the Duke with a book of devotions ibid. E. ELiot Sir John imprisoned 311 Elvis Sir Gervas his posterity restored in blood and estate 3 Most guilty of the death of Sir Thomas Overbury 3 Emperour Ferdinand the third deales unworthily with King James 166. and against his own Letter 234 changes the German Customes 171 his proceeding against the Palsgrave protested against 336 Elizabeth Queen of England her Speech to her Army at Tilbury 260 Restrains the Papists and why 258 protects the Low-Countries and upon what termes 333 338 England alone happy in its Religion 112 inclined to popularity 228 229 not what it hath been 261 Episcopacy gone what will follow 117 Essex Earl commanded to fight the Spanish Ships le ts them escape 135 F. FEria Duke 168 Fiat Marquesse 293 302 288 Finch Lady created Viscountesse of Maidstone 79 Fleet of Spain 43 53 Plate Fleet 48 49. part cast away 208 of Portugal 53. for Brasil 167 Of the Spaniard's Venetians and Turks 186 207. of the Low-Countries for the West-Indies 341 346 Frenchman burnt in Spain for contempt to the host 51 Frenchmen use the English basely 149 their Contract for the English Ships 150 French King falls upon those of the Religion 164 177 France governed by the Queen Mother at the proposals of the Match with Madam which she is earnest for but will do nothing till the Treaty with Spain be broke 274 to 277. The French not much sollicitous for the English Recusants 275 284 285 Richnesse of their habits at a Masque in honour of the English 278 279 fear the Spanish greatnesse 281 desirous of the English alliance 282 283 287 articles of the Match disliked by the English 289 endeavour to break the Spanish Treaty 305 Give precedency to the English 254 G. GAbor Bethlem 335 Gage imployed about the Dispensation 233 238 Geere Sir Michael 135 Gerard Sir Thomas seized upon suspition of designes against the King 272 Gifford a Sea Captain his design upon a Gallion in the Gulph of Mexico 343 Gondomar his false relations of the Prince of Wales 15 Commanded again for England 54 Goodnesse ever most easily betrayed 270 Goring Sir George 96 200 330 316 339 Grandees of Spain severally present their King with summes of monies to relieve his wants 168 Grandmont French Mounsieur 285 Gregorie the 15. tempts the Prince of Wales to change Religion 212 213 tries to make the Duke of Buckingham 216 Greiham 316 Gresley ibid. Gelderland States have the leading voyce in the united Netherlands 323 Goring Sir George 200 Guicciardines Judgment of Venice 8 H. HAlberstat Christian Duke of Brunswick 240 Hamilton Marquesse 316 Hartford Earl's Petition 89 Harton Sir Christopher 226 Haughton Sir Gilbert complains of the Lord Keeper Williams his servants 74 Henderson Colonel slain at Bergen 328 Henderson Sir Francis 329 Henrietta Maria of France after Queen of England 253. beautiful discreet and full of respect to the Prince of Wales 276 277. See 278 290 sends privately for his picture 280 Herbert Lord of no faction his Informations to King James from France 304 305 Holland Earl Lord Kensington in France when the Treaty for the Match there was beginning for it 274 275 276 277 278 279. received by the French King 278. speaks to him concerning the Match 282. with the Queen Mother 289. with Madam 290. allowed at all times free entrance into the Louure 294 Howard Sir Robert 103 104. I. JAniville Prince for the Queen Mother 176. forwards the alliance with France 279 James King of England famous for wisedome mercy c. 7 Appoints Commissioners to inquire of the Archbishop of Canterburies Case 12. See Archbishop of Canterbury his promises to Williams Lord Keeper 56. Never breaks his word 77 Protectour of the Protestants
Petition of Francis Philips to King Iames for the release of Sir Robert Philips prisoner in the Tower P. 155 Oliver St. John to the Major of Marlborough against the Benevolence P. 159 The Justices of Peace in Com. Devon to the Lords of the Councel P. 182 The Archbishop of Canterbury to the Bishops concerning K. James his Directions for Preachers with the Directions Aug. 14. 1622. P. 183 King James his Instructions to the Archbishop of Canterbury concerning Orders to be observed by Bishops in their Dioceses 1622. P. 187 Bishop of Winchester to his Archdeacon to the same effect P. 189 The Bishop of Lincoln Lord Keeper to the Bishop of London concerning Preaching and Catechising P. 190 Instructions for the Ministers and Churchwardens of London P. 193 Mons Bevayr Chancellor of France discharged to the French King ibid. Mons Richere forced recants his opinions against the Papal supremacie over Kings P. 196 Car. Richlieu to the Roman Catholicks of Great Britain Aug. 25. 1624. P. 197 Mons Balsac to the Cardinal de la Valette ibid. Mons Balsac to the King Louis P. 200 Mons Toyrax to the Duke of Buckingham P. 201 Ab ignoto concerning the estate of Rochel after the surrender P. 202 The Protestants of France to Charles King of Great-Britain P. 204 The Duke of Rohan to his Majesty of Great-Britain Mar. 12. 1628. P. 208 Pope Greg. 15. to the Inquisitor-general of Spain April 19. 1623. P. 210 Pope Urban to Lewis the 13. Aug. 4. 1629. P. 211 The Duke of Buckingham Chancellor Elect to the Vniversity of Cambridge Iune 5. 1626. P. 213 King Charles to the Vniversity of Cambridge in approbation of their election Iune 6. 1626. P. 214 The Vniversity of Cambridge its answer to the Duke Iune 6. 1626. P. 215 The Vniversity of Cambridge its answer to the King P. 216 A Privy-Seal for transporting of Horse Iune 6. 1624. P. 217 The Vniversity of Cambridge to the Duke P. 218 The Dukes answer P. 219 The Vice-chancellor of Cambridge to the King upon the Dukes death ib. King Charles to the Vniversity of Cambridge for a new election P. 220 The Earl of Holland to the Vniversity P. 221 The Vnimersity of Cambridge to the King P. 222 An Order made at Whitehall betwixt the Vniversity and Town of Cambridge Decemb. 4. 1629. P. 223 The Vniversity of Cambridge to the Archbishop of York P. 224 The Vniversity of Cambridge to the Earl of Manchester P. 225 The Vniversity of Cambridge to Sir Humphrey May P. 226 Instructions by K. Charles to the Vicechancellor and Heads of Cambridge for Government c. Mar. 4. 1629. P. 127 The Vniversity of Cambridge to the Lord chief Iustice Richardson P. 228 The Bishop of Exeter to the Lower-House of Parliament P. 229 King Charles to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal P. 230 A Councel-Table Order against hearing Mass at Ambassadors houses March 10. 1629. P. 232 The King of Spain to Pope Urban Sept. 11. 1629. P. 234 The Councel of Ireland to King Charls in defence of the Lord Deputy Faulkland Aug. 28. 1629. P. 235 Ab ignoto Of the affairs of Spain France and Italy June 5. 1629. P. 239 The Lords of the Councel of England to the Lords of the Councel of Ireland Jan. 31. 1629. P. 240 The Lord Faulklands Petition to the King P. 242 The Duke of Modena to the Duke of Savoy July 30. 1629. P. 243 Sir Kenelm Digby to Sir Edward Stradling P. 244 Mr. Gargrave to the Lord Davers P. 253 A Declaration of Ferdinand Infanta of Spain July 5. 1636. P. 257 FINIS King HENRY the 8. to the Clergie of the Province of York An. 1533. Touching his Title of Supreme Head of the Church of England RIght Reverend Father in God Right trusty and welbeloved We greet you well and have received your Letters dated at York the 6. of May containing a long discourse of your mind and opinion concerning such words as hath passed the Clergie of the Province of Canterbury in the Proeme of their Grant made unto us the like whereof should now pass in that Province Albeit ye interlace such words of submission of your Judgment and discharge of your duty towards us with humble fashion and behaviour as we cannot conceive displeasure nor be miscontent with you considering what you have said to us in times past in other matters and what ye confess in your Letters your self to have heard and known noting also the effect of the same We cannot but marvail at sundry points and Articles which we shall open unto you as hereafter followeth First ye have heard as ye say ye have the said words to have passed in the Convocation of Canterbury where were present so many learned in Divinity and Law as the Bishops of Rochester London S. Assaph Abbots of Hyde S. Bennets and many other and in the Law the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Bath and in the Lower House of the Clergie so many notable and great Clerks whose persons and learning you know well enough Why do ye not in this case with your self as you willed us in our great matter conform your conscience to the conscience and opinion of a great number Such was your advice to us in the same our great matter which now we perceive ye take for no sure counsel for ye search the grounds not regarding their sayings Nevertheless forasmuch as ye examine their grounds causes and reasons in doing whereof ye seem rather to seek and examine that thing which might disprove their doings then that which might maintain the same We shall answer you briefly without long discourse to the chief points of your said Letters wherein taking for a ground that words were ordained to signifie things and cannot therefore by sinister interpretation alter the truth of them but only in the wits of perverse persons that would blind or colour the same by reason whereof to good men they signifie that they mean only doing their office and to men of worse sort they serve for maintenance of such meaning as they would imagine so in using words we ought only to regard and consider the expression of the truth in convenient speech and sentences without overmuch scruple of super-perverse interpretations as the malice of men may excogitate wherein both overmuch negligence is not to be commended and too much diligence is not only by daily experience in mens writings and laws shewed frustrate and void insomuch as nothing can be so cleerly and plainly written spoken and ordered but that subtile wit hath been able to subvert the same but also the Spirit of God which in his Scripture taught us the contrary as in the places which ye bring in reherse if the Holy Ghost had had regard to that which might have been perversly construed of these words Pater major me est and the other Ego Pater unum sumus there should have been added to the first humanitas to the second substantia And
death of Mr. Secretary Walsingham SIR VPon this unhappy accident I have tryed to the bottom what the Queen will do for you and what the credit of your Sollicitor is worth I urged not the comparison between you and any other But in my duty to her and zeal to her service I did assure her that she had not any other in England that would for these three or four years know how to settle himself to support so great a burthen She gave me leave to speak heard me with patience confessed with me that none was so sufficient and could not deny but that which she lays to your charge was done without hope fear malice envy or any respect of your own but meerly for her safety both of state and person In the end she absolutely denied to let you enjoy that place and willed me to rest satisfied for she was resolved Thus much I write to let you know I am more honest to my friends then happy in their cases What you will have me do for your suit I will as far as my credit is any thing worth I have told most of the Councel of my manner of dealing with the Queen my Lord Chamberlain tells me he hath dealt for you also and they all say they wish as I do but in this world that is enough I will commit you to God for this time and rest Your constant and true friend R. ESSEX Earl of Essex to the Queen MY dutiful affections to your Majesty always overweighed all other worldly respects that seeking in all particulars to manifest my truth I have maimed my estate in general as I dare in the heat of my thoughts compare with the greatest that ever vowed for faithful service so is there not the meanest that hath overslipped me I will not say in recompence but in some gracious estate of service Thus whilst my faith wrestleth with my fortune the one winns breath to beat th' other down Though I have no hope to repair the ruines of my oversight yet I cannot but presume your Majesty will suffer me to preserve them from blowing up and what youth and forward belief hath undermined in mine estate providence by a retired life may underlay In which discontinuance from Court there shall be added if any thing be added increase of loyalty Nor so solitary shall be my course as it shall seem to proceed of discontentment but of necessity and all actions both with living and my life so forward as though some may have overrun me in fortunes none shall in duty Next my allegiance to your Majesty which shall be held most sacred and inviolable the report of mine Honour challengeth chief interest which that I may preserve in my wonted state reason draws me to stay my self slipping from falling That of late by what secret and venemous blow I know not my faith hath received some wounds your Majesties wonted grace withdrawn assures me But truth and my patience in this case were one with me and time in your Princely thoughts did wear it out from me Let time be Judge I will leave you with as great lothness as I were to lose what I love best But your favour failing in which I have placed all my hopes and my self less graced after seven years then when I had served but seven dayes may be a reason to excuse if there were no other reason These things pressed out of a distressed mind and offered in all humility I hope it shall not be offensive if I choose this wearisom course rather to be retired then tired If any of envy take advantage of absence seeking by cunning to draw me into suspition of discontentment my conscience is setled in your never erring Judgment that if he come with Esau's hands and Jacob's voice your Highness will censure it a wrought malice under such simplicity It is true that grief cannot speak but this grief hath made me write lest when I leave you I should so far forsake my self as to leave this unsaid To your gracious acceptance I commit it and with all humble and reverent thoughts that may be rest ever to be commanded to die at your Majesties feet RO. ESSEX Again to the Queen FRom a mind delighting in sorrow from spirits wasted with passion from a heart torne in pieces with care grief and travel from a man that hateth himself and all things that keepeth him alive what service can your Majesty expect since your service past deserves no more then banishment or prescription in the cursed'st of all other Countries Nay nay it is your Rebels pride and success that must give me leave to ransom my life out of this hatefull prison of my loathed body which if it happen so your Majesty shall have no cause to mislike the fashion of my death since the course of my life could never please you Your Majesties exiled Servant RO. ESSEX Sir Thomas Egerton Lord Chancellor to the Earl of Essex My very good Lord IT is often seen that he that stands by seeth more then he that playeth the game and for the most part every one in his own cause standeth in his own light and seeth not so cleerly as he should Your Lordship hath dealt in other mens causes and in great and weighty affairs with great wisdom and judgment now your own is in hand you are not to contemn or refuse the advice of any that love you how simple soever In this order I rank my self among others that love you none more simple and none that love you with more true and honest affection which shall plead my excuse if you shall either mistake or mistrust my words or meaning but in your Lordships honorable wisdom I neither doubt nor suspect the one nor the other I will not presume to advise you but shoot my bolt and tell you what I think The beginning and long continuance of this so unseasonable discontentment you have seen and proved by which you aim at the end If you hold still this course which hitherto you find to be worse and worse and the longer you go the further you go out of the way there is little hope or likelihood the end will be better You are not yet gone so far but that you may well return The return is safe but the progress is dangerous and desperate in this course you hold If you have any enemies you do that for them which they could never do for themselves Your friends you leave to scorn and contempt you forsake your self and overthrow your fortunes and ruinate your honour and reputation You give that comfort and courage to the foreign enemies as greater they cannot have for what can be more welcome and pleasing news then to hear that her Majesty and the Realm are maimed of so worthy a Member who hath so often and so valiantly quailed and daunted them You forsake your Country when it hath most need of your Councel and aid And lastly you fail in your indissoluble
and Subscriptions when they descended into that vile and base means of defacing the Government of the Church by ridiculous Pasquils when they began to make many Subjects in doubt to take an Oath which is one of the fundamental points of Justice in this Land and in all places when they began both to vaunt of their strength and number of their partizans and followers and to use the communications that their Cause would prevail though with uprore and violence then it appeared to be no more zeal no more conscience but meer faction and division And therefore though the State were compelled to hold somwhat a harder hand to restrain them then before yet it was with as great moderation as the peace of the Church and State could permit And therefore to conclude consider uprightly of these matters and you shall see her Majesty is no Temporizer in Religion It is not the success abroad nor the change of servants here at home can alter her only as the things themselves alter so she applied her religious wisdom to correspond unto them still retaining the two rules before mentioned in dealing tenderly with consciences and yet in discovering Faction from Conscience Farewell Your loving Friend Francis Walsingham Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Essex when Sir Robert Cecil was in France My singular good Lord I Do write because I have not yet had time fully to express my conceit nor now to attend you touching Irish matters considering them as they may concern the State that it is one of the aptest particulars that hath come or can come upon the stage for your Lordship to purchase honour upon I am moved to think for three reasons Because it is ingenerate in your House in respect of my Lord your Fathers noble attempts because of all the accidents of State at this time the labour resteth most upon that and because the world will make a kind of comparison between those that set it out of frame and those that shall bring it into frame which kind of honour giveth the quickest kind of reflection The transferring this honour upon your self consisteth in two points The one if the principal persons imployed come in by you and depend upon you the other if your Lordship declare your self to undertake a care of that matter For the persons it falleth out well that your Lordship hath had no interest in the persons of imputation For neither Sir William Fitz-Williams nor Sir John Norris was yours Sir William Russel was conceived yours but was curbed Sir Coniers Clifford as I conceive it dependeth upon you who is said to do well and if my Lord of Ormond in this interim do accommodate well I take it he hath always had good understanding with your Lordship So as all things are not only whole and entire but of favourable aspect towards your Lordship if you now chuse well wherein in your wisdom you will remember there is a great difference in choice of the persons as you shall think the affairs to incline to composition or to war For your care-taking popular conceit hath been that Irish causes have been much neglected whereby the very reputation of better care will be a strength And I am sure her Majesty and my Lords of the Councel do not think their care dissolved when they have chosen whom to imploy but that they will proceed in a spirit of State and not leave the main point to discretion Then if a Resolution be taken a Consultation must proceed and the Consultation must be governed upon Information to be had from such as know the place and matters in fact And in taking of information I have always noted there is a skill and a wisdom For I cannot tell what accompt or inquiry hath been taken of Sir William Russel of Sir Ralph Bingham of the Earl of Tomond of Mr. Wilbraham but I am of opinion much more would be had of them if your Lordship shall be pleased severally to confer not obiter but expresly upon some Caveat given them to think of it before for bene docet qui prudenter interrogat For the points of opposing them I am too much a stranger to the business to deduce them but in a Topique methinks the pertinent interrogations must be either of the possibility and means of Accord or of the nature of the War or of the reformation of the particular abuses or of the joyning of practice with force in the disunion of the Rebels If your Lordship doubt to put your sickle in others mens harvests yet consider you have these advantages First Time being fit to you in Mr. Secretaries absence Next Vis unita fortior Thirdly â—he business being mixt with matters of war it is fittest for you Lastly I know your Lordship will carry it with that modesty and respect towards aged Dignity and that good correspondencie towards my dear Ally and your good friend now abroad as no inconveniencie may grow that way Thus have I plaid the ignorant Statesman which I do to no body but your Lordship except I do it to the Queen sometimes when she trains me on But your Lordship will accept my duty and good meaning and secure me touching the privateness of that I write Your Lordships to be commanded FR. BACON Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Essex concerning the Earl of Tyrone THose advertisements which your Lordship imparted to me and the like I hold to be no more certain to make judgment upon then a Patients water to a Physitian Therefore for me upon one water to make a judgment were indeed like a foolish bold Mountebank or Doctor Birket Yet for willing duties sake I will set down to your Lordship what opinion sprung in my mind upon that I read The Letter from the Councel there leaning to distrust I do not much rely upon for three causes First because it is always both the grace and the safety from blame of such a Councel to erre in caution whereunto add that it may be they or some of them are not without envy towards the person who is used in treating the Accord Next because the time of this Treaty hath no shew of dissimulation for that Tyrone is now in no straits but like a Gamester that will give over because he is a winner not because he hath no more mony in his purse Lastly I do not see but those Articles whereupon they ground their suspition may as well proceed out of fear as out of falshood for the reteining of the dependance of the protracting the admission of a Sheriffe the refusing to give his son for hostage the holding from present repair to Dublin the refusing to go presently to accord without including O Donell and others his associates may very well come of a guilty reservation in case he should receive hard measure and not out of treachery so as if the great person be faithfull and that you have not here some present intelligence of present succours from Spain
heart be mis-judged by imputation of popularity or opposition I have great wrong and the greater because the manner of my speech did most evidently shew that I spake most simply and onely to satisfie my conscience and not with any advantage or policy to sway the cause and my terms carried all signifification of duty and zeal towards her Majesty and her service It is very true that from the beginning whatsoever was a double Subsidy I did wish might for presidents sake appear to be extraordinary and for discontents sake might not have been levied upon the poverty though otherwise I wished it as rising as I think this will prove or more This was my mind I confess it and therefore I most humbly pray your good Lordship first to continue me in your own good opinion and then to perform the part of an honorable good friend towards your poor servant and all in drawing her Majesty to accept of the sincerity and simplicity of my zeal and to hold me in her Majesties favour which is to me dearer then my life And so c. Your Lordships most humble in all duty FR. BACON Sir Francis Bacon to the Earl of Northampton May it please your good Lordship AS the time of sowing of a seed is known but the time of coming up and disclosing is casuall or according to the season so I am witness to my self that there hath been covered in my mind a long time a seed of affection and zeal towards your Lordship sown by the estimation of your vertues and your particular honors and favours to my brother deceased and to my self which seed sti l springing now bursteth forth into this profession And to be plain with your Lordship it is very true and no winds or noyses of evill matters can blow this out of my head or heart that your great capacities and love towards studies and contemplations of an higher and worthier nature then popular a matter rare in the world in a person of your Lordships quality almost singular is to me a great and chief motive to draw my affection admiration towards you and therefore good my Lord if I may be of any use to your Lordship I humbly pray your Lordship to hold me your own and therefore withall not to do so much disadvantage to my good mind as to conceive that this commendation of my humble service proceedeth out of any straits of my occasions but meerly out of an election and indeed the fulness of my heart And so wishing your Lordship all prosperity I continue yours c. FR. BACON To the Lord Kinloss upon the entrance of K. James My Lord THe present occasion awaketh in me a remembrance of the constant amity and mutual good offices which passed between my Brother deceased and your Lordship whereunto I was less strange then in respect of the time I had reason to pretend and withall I call to mind the great opinion my Brother who seldom failed in judgment of a person would often express to me of your Lordships great wisdom and soundness both in head and heart towards the service and affairs of the Lord our Soveraign King The one of those hath bred in me an election and the other a confidence to address my good will and sincere affection to your good Lordship not doubting in regard that my course of life hath wrought me not to be altogether unseen in the matters of the Kingdom that I may be in some use both in points of service to the King and your Lordships particular And on the other side I will not omit to desire humbly your Lordships favour in furthering a good conceit and impression of my most humble duty and true zeal towards the King to whose Majesty words cannot make me known neither mine own nor others but time will to no disadvantage of any that shall forerun his Majesties experience by their humanity and commendations And so I commend your Lordship to Gods protection Your c. FR. BACON From Grayes-Inne c. To King James MAy it please your most excellent Majesty It is observed upon a place in the Canticles by some Ego sum Flos Campi Lilium Convallium that it is not said Ego sum flos horti lilium montium because the Majesty of that Person is not inclosed for a few nor appropriate to the great And yet notwithstanding this Royal vertue of access which nature and judgment hath placed in your Majesties mind as the portal of all the rest could not of it self my imperfections considered have animated me to have made oblation of my self immediately to your Majesty had it not been joyned to a habit of like liberty which I enjoyed with my late dear Soveraign Mistress a Princess happy in all things but most happy in such a Successor And yet further and more neerly I was not a little encouraged not only upon a supposal that unto your Majesties sacred eares open to the aire of all vertues there might have come some small breath of the good memory of my Father so long a principal Councellor in your Kingdom but also by the particular knowledge of the infinite devotion and incessant endeavours beyond the strength of his body and the nature of the times which appeared in my good Brother towards your Majesties service and were on your Majesties part through your singular benignities by many most gracious and lively significations and favours accepted and acknowledged beyond the thought of any thing he could effect All which endeavours and duties for the most part were common to my self with him though by design between brethren dissembled And therefore most high and mighty King my most dear and dread Soveraign Lord since now the corner-stone is laid of the mightiest Monarchy in Europe and that God above who is noted to have a mighty hand in bridling the floods and fluctuations of the seas and of peoples hearts hath by the miraculous and universal consent the more strange because it proceedeth from such diversity of causes in your coming in given a sign and token what he intendeth in the continuance I think there is no Subject of your Majesty who loveth this Island and is nâ—â— hollow and unworthy whose heart is not on fire not only to bring you Peace-offerings to make you propitious but to sacrifice himself as a Burnt-offering to your Majesties service Amongst which number no mans fire shall be more pure and fervent but how far forth it shall blaze out that resteth in your Majesties imployment For since your fortune in the greatness thereof hath for a time debarred your Majesty of the fruitly vertue which one calleth the principal Principis est virtus maxima nosse suos because your Majesty hath many of yours which are unknown unto you I must leave all to the trial of further time and thirsting after the happiness of kissing your Royal hand continue ever Your c. FR. BACON To the Earl of Northumberland concerning
fault that you were too open in your proceedings and so taught them whereby to defend themselves so you gave them time to undermine Justice and to work upon all advantages both of affections and honor and opportunity and breach of friendship which they have so wel followed sparing neither pains nor cost that it almost seemeth an offence in you to have done so much indeed then that you have done no more you stopt the confessions accusations of some who perhaps had they been suffered would have spoken enough to have removed some stumbling-blocks out of your way and that you did not this in the favour of any one but of I know not what present unadvised humours supposing enough behind to discover all which fel not out so Howsoever as the Apostle saith in another case you went not rightly to the truth and therefore though you were to be commended for what you did yet you were to be reprehended for many circumstances in the doing and doubtless God hath an eye in this cross to your negligence and the briers are left to be pricks in your sides and thorns in your eyes But that which we commend you for are those excellent parts of Nature and knowledge in the Law which you are indued withall but these are only good in their good use wherefore we thank you heartily for standing stoutly in the Commonwealths behalfe hoping it proceedeth not from a disposition to oppose Greatness as your enemies say but to do justice and deliver truth indifferently without respect of persons and in this we pray for your prosperity and are sorry that your good actions should not always succeed happily But in the carriage of this you were faulty for you took it in hand in an evill time both in respect of the present business which it interrupted and in regard of his present sickness whom it concerned whereby you disunited your strength and made a gap for the enemies to pass out at and to return and assault you But now since the case so standeth we desire you to give way to power and so to fight that you be not utterly broken but reserved intirely to serve the Commonwealth again and do what good you can since you cannot do all the good you would and since you are fallen upon this work cast out the goods to save the bottom stop the leaks and make towards land learn of the Steward to make friends of the unrighteous Mammon Those Spaniards in Mexico who were chased of the Indians tell us what to do with our goods in our extremities they being to passe over a râ—ver in their flight as many as cast away their gold swam over safe but some more covetous keeping their gold were either drowned with it or overtaken and slain by the Savages you have received now learn to give The Beaver learns us this lesson who being hunted for his stones bites them off You cannot but have much of your estate pardon my plainnesse ill got think how much of that you never spake for how much by speaking unjustly or in unjust causes Account it then a blessing of God if thus it may be laid out for your good and not left for your heir to hasten the wasting of much of the rest perhaps of all for so we see God oftentimes proceeds in judgement with many hasty gatherers you have enough to spare being well laid to turn the Tide and fetch all things again But if you escape I suppose it worthy of an if since you know the old use that none called in question must go away uncensured yet consider that accusations make wounds and leave scarres and though you see your tale behind your back your self free and the Covert before yet remember there are stands trust not reconciled enemies but think the peace is but to secure you for further advantage expect a second and a third encounter the main battell the wings are yet unbroken they may charge you at an instant or death before them walk therefore circumspectly and if at length by means of our good endeavours and yours you recover the favour that you have lost give God the glory in action not in words onely and remember us with sense of your past misfortune whose estate hath doth and may hereafter lye in the power of your breath There is a great mercy in dispatch delays are tortures wherewith we are by degrees rent out of our estates do not you if you be restored as some others do fly from the service of vertue to serve the time as if they repented their goodness or meant not to make a second hazard in Gods House but rather let this cross make you zealous in Gods cause sensible in ours and more sensible in all which express thus You have been a great enemy to Papists if you love God be so still but more indeed then heretofore for much of your zeal was heretofore wasted in words call to remembrance that they were the persons that prophesied of that cross of yours long before it hapned they saw the storm coming being the principall contrivers and furtherers of the plot the men that blew the coals heat the Iron and made all things ready they owe you a good turn and will if they can pay it you you see their hearts by their deeds prove then your faith so too The best good work you can do is to do the best you can against them that is to see the Law severely justly and diligently executed And now we beseech you my Lord be sensible both of the stroak and hand that striketh learn of David to leave Shimei and call upon God he hath some great work to do and he prepareth you for it he would neither have you faint nor yet bear this cross with a Stoical resolution There is a Christian mediocrity worthy of your greatness I must be plain perhaps rash Had some notes which you have taken at Sermons been written in your heart to practise this work had been done long ago without the envy of your enemies But when we will not mind our selves God if we belong to him takes us in hand and because he seeth that we have unbridled stomacks therefore he sends outward crosses which while they cause us to mourn do comfort us being assured testimonies of his love that sends them to humble our selves therefore before God is the part of a Christian but for the world and our enemies the counsell of the Poet is apt Tune cede malis sed contra andentior ito The last part of this counsell you forget yet none need be asham'd to make use of it that so being armed against casualties you may stand firm against the assaults on the right hand and on the left For this is certain the mind that is most prone to be puft up with prosperity is most weak and apt to be dejected with the least puff of adversity Indeed she is strong enough to make an able man stagger striking
terrible blows but true Christian wisdom gives us armour of proof against all assaults and teacheth us in all estates to be content for though she cause our truest friends to declare themselves our enemies though she give heart then to the most cowardly to strike us though an hours continuance countervail an age of prosperity though she cast in our dish all that ever we have done yet hath she no power to hurt the humble and wise but onely to break such as too much prosperity hath made stiff in their own thoughts but weak indeed and fitted for renewing when the wise rather gather from thence profit and wisdom by the example of David who said Before I was chastised I went wrong Now then he that knoweth the right way will look better to his footing Cardan saith That weeping fasting and sighing are the chief purgers of griefes Indeed naturally they help to asswage sorrow but God in this case is the onely and best Physician the means he hath ordained are the advice of friends the amendment of our selves for amendment is both Physitian and Cure For friends although your Lordship be scant yet I hope you are not altogether destitute if you be do but look on good books they are true friends that will neither flatter nor dissemble be you but true to your self applying what they teach unto the party gtieved and you shall need no other comfort nor counsell To them and to Gods holy Spirit directing you in the reading of them I commend your Lordship beseeching him to send you a good issue out of these troubles and from henceforth to work a reformation in all that is amiss and a resolute perseverance proceeding and growth in all that is good and that for his glory the bettering of your self this Church and Common-wealth whose faithfull servant whilst you remain I remain a faithfull servant to you To Sir Vincent Skinner expostulatory Sir Vincent Skinner I See that by your needless delayes this matter is grown to a new question wherein for the matter it self if it had been staid at the begining by my Lord Treasurer and my Lord Chrncellor I should not so much have stood upon it For the great and daily travels which I take in his Majesties service either are rewarded in themselves in that they are but my duty or else may deserve a much greater matter Neither can I think amiss of any man that in furtherance of the Kings benefit moved the doubt that I knew not what warrant you had But my wrong is that you having had my Lord Treasurers and Mr. Chancellors warrant for payment above a moneth since you I say making your payments belike upon such differences as are better known to your self then agreeable to due respect of his Majesties service have delayed all this time otherwise then I might have expected either from our antient acquaintance or from that regard as one in your place may owe to one in mine By occasion whereof there ensueth to me a greater inconvenience that now my name in sort must be in question amongst you as if I were a man likely to demand that that were unreasonable or to be denied that that is reasonable And this must be because you can pleasure men at pleasure But this I leave with this that it is the first matter wherein I had occasion to discern of your friendship which I see to fall to this That whereas Mr. Chancellor the last time in my mans hearing very honourably said that he would not discontent any man in my place it seems you have no such caution But my writing to you now is to know of you where now the stay is without being any more beholden to you to whom indeed no man ought to be beholden in those cases in a right course And so I bid you farewell FR. BACON To Mr. Toby Matthews Mr. Matthews DO not think me forgetfull or altered towards you But if I should say I could do you any good I should make my power more then it is I do fear that which I am right sorry for that you grow more impatient and busie then at first which makes me exceedingly fear the issue of that which seemeth not to stand at a stay I my self am out of doubt that you have been miserably abused when you were first seduced and that which I take in compassion others may take in severity I pray God that understands us all better then we understand one another continue you as I hope he will at least within the bounds of loyalty to his Majesty and natural piety to your Country And I intreat you much to meditate sometimes upon the effect of Superstition in this last Powder-Treason fit to be tabled and pictur'd in the chambers of Meditation as another Hell above the ground and well justifying the censure of the Heathen that Superstition is far worse then Atheism by how much it is less evil to have no good opinion of God at all then such as are impious towards his divine Majesty and goodness Good Mr. Matthews receive your self back from these courses of perdition Willing to have written a great deal more I continue Your c. FR. BACON To the Lord Treasurer concerning the Sollicitors place AFter the remembrance of my humble duty though I know by late experience how mindfull your Lordship vouchsafeth to be of me and my poor fortune and since it pleased your Lordship during your indisposition when her Majesty came to visit your Lordship to make mention of me for my imployment and preferment yet being now in the Country I do presume that your Lordship who of your self had an honorable care of the matter will not think it a trouble to be sollicited therein My hope is this that whereas your Lordship told me her Majesty was somwhat gravelled upon the offence she took at my Speech in Parliament your Lordships favourable endeavour who hath assured me that for your own part you construe that I spake to the best will be as a good tide to remove her from that shelf And it is not unknown unto your good Lordship that I was the first of the ordinary sort of the lower House that spake for the Subsidie and that which I after spake in difference was but in circumstance of time which methinks was no great matter since there is variety allowed in Councel as a Discord in Musick to make it more perfect But I may justly doubt her Majesties impression upon this particular as her conceipt otherwise of my insufficiencie and unworthiness which though I acknowledge to be great yet it will be the less because I purpose not to divide my self between her Majesty and the causes of other men as others have done but to attend her business only hoping that a whole man meanly able may do as well as half a man better able And if her Majesty thinketh that she shall make an adventure in using one that is rather a man of study then of
there are those in Biscay and some in Portugal only excepted where we have not divers oppressions imprisonments and unjust imbargements in Sivil especially whereof forty several suits and as many false sentences given raised and pursued by a man now dead and therefore in charity left unnamed We have hitherto in your Majesties Councel of war where before those noble Lords all passed by the equal line of Justice not failed in my remembrance in the overthrowing of any save one mistaken that passed in a wrong name and another concerning merchandise that had their manufacture in Embden whereof I suppose those Lords were not rightly informed only excepted In that Court I must acknowledge we have had redress but yet with your Majesties favour a miserable one our gain being whether we shall be owners of our own or not our expences and charges certain and the time without measure large whereby many have been undone some dead in prison in England for want of what was unjustly detained from them here Yet neither the false Judges in Sivil nor Promoters ever chastised or for any thing that I yet have understood so much as ever reprehended or found fault with I haste to a conclusion fearing lest I should dwell too long in a matter so unsavoury and unpleasing to your Majesties pittifull ears and Christian heart so much of it self disposed to all clemency and piety I will for the next resort to the ships cordage corn and other victuals and provisions taken from the King my Soveraigns subjects for your Majesties own services and the relief of the extreme necessity in your Gallies and Garrisons of the Navy of whom some have been enforced for want of payment of their monies to send their ships home unfreighted a loss extreme to poor Merchants that live by trade and time to repair to this Court and here remain some of them 14 moneths and others two years and more till their very charges had eaten out a great part of what was due unto them and in the end recover only their own without any relief or recompence either for their expences times lost or damages I will only instance two because their causes are most strange and pittifull and yet unsatisfied the one named Thomas Harrison and the other Richard Morris The first served your Majesty with his ship till the same with one of his sons and all of his men were swallowed with the seas and hath been here more then four years suing for his recompence and salary recommended by the King my Soveraign by Letters from your Majesties Ambassadors in England and by my self all that long time furthered with my earnest sollicitation which hath begot infinite promises but to this day no manner of payment or performance The other who sometimes hath been a man of wealth and reputation and falling into great poverty served your Majesty with all that in the world he was worth and all that in value above 6000 Ryals I blush I protest to think of it and my heart is grieved to mention it to so great a King of whose liberality and magnificence the world taketh so much notice His right and his necessity being well known unto your Officers he hath been more then three years and a half fed with hopes and put off with schedules and sending from one Port to another for the receipt of his mony till he hath indebted himself the most part of the sum and at present wanteth wherewith both to feed and cover him Now at last he is promised payment out here of your Royal chests but after so many ceremonies and circumstances to be performed with your Officers in other parts as God knows hunger may end the poor man before they begin to satisfie him By all this will plainly appear to your Majesty that your Majesties subjects are by the favour and Christian justice of the King my master entred into the new Testament and law of Grace having restitution and remedy without the delayes of ceremony and formality and we still remain under the old and tyed in all things to the hand-writing of the Law to the burthenous circumstances and intolerable dilatory formalities of proceeding in this your Kingdom and what else your unpittifull Ministers will out of uncharitable and unsensible minds of other mens harms charge and impose upon us Well doth your Majesty conceive that would the King my Master wink at the like courses to be taken by his subjects and ministers with such of yours as they might meet upon the seas the English are not of so little invention but they could devise as good colours and pretences nor their Lawyers of so small skill and so much conscience but they could form and protract suits nor the ships of England so weakened and lessened but they could equal and surmount their losses I have out of mine own humble affection to your Majesty out of my generall and ever continuing desire to hold firm the ancient amity so necessary for your own estates and utile for the whole common-weal of Christendom out of the force of duty I owe to my King and Country thus far adventured to unburthen my soul and thoughts not doubting but your Majesties magnanimous and Christian heart will be moved as well in desire to equal the pious and immutable example of the King my Master as in a just compassion of a Nation now confederate with you and that so gladly would entertain any cause to love and serve you to give present remedy to those wofull and intolerable oppressions and that since you have firmed and consented by your Articles of Peace of new orders which being confirmed by your oath stand now in force of Laws you would be pleased in like manner to give them a new form of indilatory execution conformable to that of the King my Soveraign c. King James to the University of Cambridge Mar. 4. 1616. JACOBVS Dei gratia Magnae Britanniae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Fidei defensor c. Academiae Cantabrigiae communi salutem SI jus civitatis impetret à nobis Cantabrigia veremur ne aemula urbis potentia crescente minuatur Academiae securitas sat erit apud nos metus vestri judicium fecisse nec enim tam vobis convenit Academiae periculum deprecari quam nobis sponte nostra quicquid in speciem illi noxium sit avertere Glorietur urbs illa se à Majoribus nostris electam doctrinarum sedem ingeniorum officium sapientiae palestram Quicquid his titulis addi potest nimis non honestatur plebeia Civitatis appellatione Musarum domicilium vel sane literatorum dicatur Civitas vel quod in villa nostrae villae in incolitarum tegitur celebritate Haec ejus fuerint privilegia Academiae dignitatem comiter observare cujus frequentia facta seipsa major affluentia bonarum artium studiosos amicè excipere quorum congressu dislata est Literatorum deinque honori ancillari unde haec illa nata
salvisque Imperii legibus libenter tribuamus qui pro innata nobis benignitate aequisque conditionibus Arma poni optatam afflictissimae Germaniae pacem restitui quam legitime executiones insisti per caedes sanguinem Christianum gloriosa nomini nostro trophaea figi nunquam non maluimus In gratiam itaque Serenitatis vestrae ut res ipsa deprehendat quanti nobis sit perpetuum cum eadem amicitia cultum novo fomite subinde revocari licet hactenus prosperos militiae nostrae successus divina benignitas tribuit acquiescimus ut benevolo tractatu almae pacis redintigrandae rationes opportunae incantur eumque in finem ad evitandum viarum temporumque dispendia nunc in eo sumus ut serenissimae Principi Dominae Elizabethae Clarae Eugeniae natae Infanti Hispaniarum Archiducissae Austriae Ducissae Burgundiae Stiriae Carinthiae Carniolae Wirtinburgiae Provinciarum Belgii Burgundiarumque Dominae Consobrinae ac sorori nostrae charissimae ut istic in aula sua quorsum vestra quoque Serenitas si ita libuerit suos cum plena facultate ablegare poterit primum eumque proximum assequendae pacis gradum cessationem ab armis aequis conditionibus nomine nostro Caesari stabiliendum permittemus prope diem expedituri Legatum nostrum virum nobilem qui diligentissime in gravissimo hoc negotio mentem nostram plenius aperiet atque inde ad Serenitatem vestram animum nostrum ad redintegrandae pacis studia proclivem qui non aliter quam quibuscunque benevolentiae officiis cum Serenitate vestra certare studet magis magisque testificetur cujus interim consilia generosa praepotens Deus publico orbis commodo in faelicissimos eventus disponat Dat. Viennae 14 Jan. 1621. Earl of Bristol to King James MOst gracious Soveraign it may please your Majesty to remember that at my coming out of Spain I signified unto your Majesty how far the Duke of Lerma had upon severall occasions intimated unto me an extraordinary desire of this King and State not onely to maintain peace and amity with your Majesty but to lay hold of all things that may be offered for the nearer uniting of your Majesty and your Crowns and that from this generality he had descended often to have discourse with me of a match for the Princes Highness with the second daughter of Spain assuring me that in this King and his Ministers there was a forward disposition thereunto But from me he received no other answer but to this effect That I in the treaty of the former match for the late Prince had received so strange and unexpected answer firom them that their demands seemed so improper and unworthy that I conceived that your Majesty had little reason to be induced again to give eate to any such overture or that I should again enter into any such treaty much less to be the motioner thereof Although I would confess that if I were fully perswaded of the sincerity of their intentions and of a possibility of having the said match effected I know not any thing wherein I would more willingly imploy my endeavours but as the case now stood I was certain that if I should but make any such motion in England I should but draw imputation of much weakness upon me there and no whit advance the cause for that your Majesty and your Ministers would make no other construction of the motion but as construed to divert the Match of France which was treated of for that your Majesty who but the year before had received so unpleasing and unequal an answer should now be perswaded that there was here so great a change as that a match was really desired there would now need more then ordinary assurance But the Duke of Lerma continuing severall times the same profession and telling me besides that the greatest Cases might be altered by circumstances and that the Age of this Prince was much more proper then that of his brother I freely let the Duke know that in case I might see that it was really desired here and that I might be able to propound unto my Master conditions of so much advantage and certainty â—s might put him and his ministers out of doubt that this overture was not again revived from hence either for diversion or winning of time I would then willingly intimate unto your Majesty the inclination and desire I found here of having a proposition for this match once again set on foot The Duke told me he would have a further conference with me and that he then no ways doubted to give such satisfaction as might well assure your Majesty and your Ministers that they sincerly desired the match in generall and would omit nothing on their side for the accomodating of particulars that might give furtherance unto it But the very night before the Duke had appointed a meeting with me there came a Post dispatcht out of England from the Spanish Ambassador upon the arrivall of Sir Thomas Edmonds into England who brought word that the match with France was absolutely concluded and that within few days it was to be published Whereupon the Duke at our meeting the next morning told me that it would be needless now to descend to any particulars in the business whereof we are to treat since that they had newly received advertisement that the match with France was fully concluded And thus for the present the matter rested untill some five or six weeks after about which time my self was to go into England and so taking leave of the Duke he asked me whether I had not received advertisement that the match with France was published I told him no but I had certainly heard that it was not as yet fully concluded Whreupon he intreated me that in case I found not the French match in such forwardness as it could not be stayed I would let him know of it and that if I should see any kind of possibility that the business we had spoken of might be set on foot I would advertise him and that thereupon he would proceed to those particulars which he formerly intended for my satisfaction Herewith I acquainted your Majesty and finding the Spanish Ambassador in England had notice from the Duke of our former proceedings and order to further them by all possible means he could especially if he should understand that your Majesty were not fully resolved of the French match I thought it fit by this means to let the Duke understand in what estate I found those businesses in England and thereupon with your Majesties permission I wrote a letter unto him to this effect That although it were true that the Match with France had been treated of with much earnestness on both sides and with great likelihood of being concluded yet there daily arose so many difficulties and new cases of delay that I judged it far from any perfect conclusion neither did I see cause absolutely to despair of the businesses
which our selves pretended unless the difficulty of the Conditions should make it desperate But if those things should be expected by Spain which in the Treaty for the late Princess were demanded it were better by much not to renew the business then by impossible or unfitting propositions on either side to give distaste or lessen the friendship which now was betwixt your Majesties And therefore except that in Spain they would be contented with such conditions as your Majesty most fittingly and conveniently might yield unto and all other Catholique Princes were willing to content themselves with I neither saw cause to hope for good success or reason to set the treaty on foot But in case I might know that the conditions in point of Religion might be such as I should see a possibility of your Majesties condescending unto them I should be far from despairing of some good effect for that I knew that divers not of the meanest nor least power with your Majesty were hereunto well inclined and would give their helping hands Hereupon the Spanish Ambassador dispatcht his Secretary into Spain and received answer from the Duke that he should give me all assurance that there was a great desire and inclination to the making of the Match and that at my return into Spain they no way doubted but that I should receive such satisfaction as should make it appear on their part there should be nothing wanting for the effecting of it It now remaineth what hath passed herein since my last coming to this Court. I arrived here in Madrid only a day or two before Christmass and having some six dayes after my audience appointed by the King whilst I was in a with drawing chamber expecting the Kings coming forth the Duke of Lerma came thither to bear me company and after many respectfull demands of your Majesty and the Queens and the Princes health and some few complements unto my self concerning my welcom again unto this Court he fell to speak of the false Alarms we had in England concerning a Spanish Armado seeming much to be displeased that any credit should be given to any thing to his Majesties dishonour and want of fidelity as he termed it But your Majesty he said did never believe it And it seems he heard of some pleasant answer your Majesty should make to some one of your Ministers that in great haste came unto your Majesty when you were a hunting and told you that the Spanish Fleet was in the Channel From this he entred into great protestations of the sincerity of this Kings affection and intention towards your Majesty telling me that I should now see how much they desired to work a greater neerness and uniting between your Majesties And that of the principal business of which we had in former time spoken meaning the Marriage he desired to speak with me but it must be at more leisure I answered that I would not fail shortly to wait upon him and that he should find me answerable to the professions I had made which was that being induced thereunto by such sufficient and good grounds as might satisfie my Master both for the conveniencie and fittingness of having such a Treaty set on foot and likewise might take away all objections of their intents of entertaining and diverting your Majesty hereby I would be as ready to do all good offices and give furtherance to the business as any Minister the King of Spain had And this was all that at our first meeting passed in this business About some eight days after I having not in all this time stirred out of my house under colour of being ill disposed though the truth was indeed to inform my self of some particulars which concerned your Majesties service before I would speak with the Duke He being as I have since understood something troubled that in all this time I made no means to come unto him one morning by nine of the clock very privately came to my house without advertising of his coming as the custom is here untill the Coach stayed at my gate and then he sent in a Gentleman to me telling me that the Duke was there to speak with me When I had conducted the Duke into a room where we were private he fell into th' aforesaid matter and in the manner as I shall here set down unto your Majesty without making any other pretence or intent of his coming or without using in the space of an houre any speech touching any other business After some few questions of your Majesty and the Queen he began to ask many things of the Prince as of his age his stature his health his inclination to what sports he was chiefly given And then suddenly as it were with a passionate expression of affection he desired God to bless him and to make him the means by which your Majesties might be conjoyned in a neerer alliance and your Kingdoms in a perpetual amity saying unto me that he was out of doubt of my good inclination to this business both by what had formerly passed between our selves as likewise by my proceedings in England whereof he had been fully informed by the Spanish Ambassador And therefore he would in few words deal with me with much cleerness and freeness assuring himself he should receive the like measure from me and thereupon entred into a solemn protestation how much this King desired the Match and for himself he solemnly swore there was no one thing in the world he more desired to see before he dyed then the effecting thereof But my Lord Ambassador said he you must deal as justly with me to let me understand whether you conceive the like desire to be in the King of England and his Ministers and then I shall proceed to speak further unto you I answered the Duke That I ever esteemed more the reputation of a man of truth and integrity then of skill and subtilty which I did hope he did well perceive by what I was to say for that I was much more desirous fairly to go off from this business then easily to go into it And therefore if he would have me speak my conscience I neither conceived that either in your Majesty or any of your Ministers there was any kind of inclination thereunto for that they having formerly given so resolute and distastefull an answer your Majesty had just cause never again to cast so much as your thoughts this way And though it might be alleadged that the fitness of the Prince his years and other civil regards might cause new resolutions yet the difference of Religion were still the same and the same were the truths and opinions of Divines in matter of conscience and therefore it would not but be a thing of great difficulty to perswade your Majesty and your Ministers that a Match should be hearkened unto much less desired from hence but upon the same terms the very thought and remembrance whereof is yet unpleasing in England So that to
and communicated to every Parson Vicar and Curate Lecturer and Minister in every Cathedrall and Parish Church within their several Diocesses and that you earnestly require them to imploy their uttermost indeavour in the performance of this so important a business letting them know that we have a speciall eye to their proceedings and expect a strict account thereof both of you and them and every of them And these our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge in that hehalf Given under our Signet at our Castle of Windsor the fourteenth day of August in the twentieth year of our reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the fifty sixt Directions concerning Preachers THat no Preacher under the degree of a Bishop or a Dean of a Cathedrall or Collegiat Church and that upon the Kings days and set Festivals do take occasion by the expounding of any Text of Scripture whatsoever to fall to any set Discourse or Common-place otherwise then by opening the coherence and division of his Text which be not comprehended and warranted in essence substance effect or naturall inference within some one of the Articles of Religion set forth by authority in the Church of England and the two Books of Homilies set forth by the same authority in the year 1562. or in some of the Homilies set forth by authority of the Church of England not onely for the help of non-preaching but withall for a Patern or a Boundary as it were for the preaching Ministers and for their further instruction for the performance hereof that they forthwith read over and peruse diligently the said Book of Articles and the two Books of Homilies 2. That no Parson Vicar Curat or Lecturer shall preach any Sermon or Collation hereafter upon Sundays or Holidays in the afternoon in any Cathedral or Parish-Church throughout the Kingdom but upon some part of the Catechism or some Text taken out of the Creed the ten Commandments or the Lords prayer Funeral-sermons only excepted And that those Preachers be most encouraged and approved of who spend their afternoons exercises in the examination of Children in their Catechism which is the most antient and laudable custom of teaching in the Church of England 3. That no Preacher of what title or denomination soever under the degree of a Bishop or Dean at the least do from henceforth presume to preach in any popular Auditory the deep points of Predestination Election Reprobation or the universality efficacie resistibility or irresistibility of Gods grace but leave these Theams to be handled by learned men and that moderately and modestly by way of use and application rather then by way of positive doctrine as being fitter for Schools and Universities then for simple Auditories 4. That no Preacher of what title or denomination soever shal presume from henceforth in any Auditory within this Kingdom to declare limit or bound out by way of positive doctrine in any Sermon or Lecture the power prerogative jurisdiction authority right or duty of soveraign Princes or otherwise meddle with these matters of State and the differences betwixt Princes and people then as they are instructed and presidented in the Homilies of Obedience and in the rest of the Homilies and Articles of Religion set forth as before is mentioned by publique Authority but rather confine themselves wholly to these two heads Faith and good life which are all the subject of ancient Homilies and Sermons 5. That no Preacher of what title or denomination soever shall causelesly or without invitation of the Text fall into bitter invectives or undecent railing speeches against the persons of either Papists or Puritans but modestly and gravely when they are occasioned thereunto by the text of Scripture cleer both the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England from the aspersions of either adversary especially when the Auditory is suspected with the one or the other infection 6. Lastly That the Archbishop and Bishops of this Kingdom whom his Majesty hath good cause to blame for their former remisness be more wary and choise in the licensing of Preachers and revoke all grants made to any Chancellor Official or Commissary to pass Licences in this kind And that all the Lecturers throughout the Kingdom a new body and severed from the antient Clergie of England as being neither Parsons Vicars nor Curates be licensed henceforward in the Court of Faculties only upon recommendations of the party from the Bishop of the Diocess under his hand and seal with a Fiat from the Archbishop of Canterbury and a confirmation under the great seal of England and that such as transgress any of these Directions be suspended by the Lord Bishop of that Diocess or in his default by the Lord Archbishop of that Province ab officio beneficio for a year and a day untill his Majesty by the advice of the next Convocation shall prescribe some further punishment By this you see his Majesties Princely care that men should preach Christ crucified obedience to the higher powers and honest and Christian conversation of life but in a regular form and not that every young man should take unto himself an exorbitant liberty to teach what he listeth to the offence of his Majesty and to the disturbance and disquiet of the Church and Commonwealth I can give unto your Lordship no better directions for the performance hereof then are prescribed to you in his Majesties Letter and the Schedule hereunto annexed Wherefore I pray you be very carefull since it is the Princely pleasure of his Majesty to require an exact account both of you and of me for the same Thus not doubting but by your Register or otherwise you will cause these Instructions to be communicated to your Clergy I leave you to the Almighty and remain your Lordships loving brother Croydon Aug. 15. 1622. George Cant. King James Instructions to the Archbishop of Canterbury concerning Orders to be observed by Bishops in their Diocesses 1622. 1. THat the Lords the Bishops be commanded to their severall Sees excepting those that are in necessary attendance at Court 2. That none of them reside upon his land or lease that he hath purchased nor on his Commendum if he hold any but in one of his Episcopall Houses if he have any and that he waste not the woods where any are left 3. That they give their charge in their Trienniall Visitations and at other convenient times both by themselves and the Archdeacons and that the Declaration for setling all questions in difference be strictly observed by all parties 4. That there be a speciall care taken by them all that the Ordinations be solemn and not of unworthy persons 5. That they take great care concerning the Lecturers in their severall Diocess for whom we give these special Directions following First That in all Parishes the after-noon Sermons may be turned into Catechising by Question and Answer when and wheresoever there is no great cause apparent to break this ancient and
soules of three Kingdomes A while agoe he sent a Gentleman expresly to this Court that it might not be contrary with the Marriage which he treated with Spaine and to endeavour to make the Romans think well of it and that one of these daies it may be he will call his Holinesse and the sacred Colledge of Cardinals but hitherto these are terms of a tongue unknowne to him Furthermore in this Country we imagine that there will be no lack of warrs till Rochel be reâ—uced to extremity It is very true that the forces which the King hath left before it are not great but for how many men think you they count the Captaine into whose hands he hath put them It is not permitted to judg of that which he will doe by the ordinary course of the things of this world his actions cannot be drawn into example and though he be infinitely wise notwithstanding it is certaine that in what he undertakes it alwaies appears somewhat greater then mans wisdome Yet truly my Lord after having considered the motion of the Stars which are so just the order of the seasons whâ—ch are so governed the beauties of nature which are so divers I find in the end that there is nothing in the world where God sheweth himself so admirable as in the guiding of the life of my Lord your Father But to the purpose behold this that I added yesterday to the great discourse which I made by your Commandment and which you much praised the first time Monsr. Balsac to the King Louis SIR The late King your father hath not done more and neverthelesse not to speak of the Actions of his life your Majesty knowes that his last thoughts made all the Kings of the earth to tremble and his memorie untill this day is reverenced to the uttermost ends of the world Notwithstanding Sir be it that you are come in a better time then he be it that God hath destinated your Majesty for higher things the glory which you have gotten at the going out of your infancy is not lesse then that which that great Prince deserved when he was was growne old in Armes and in affaires as he so you make your selfe redoubted without tyranny as he so you governe your people But I am constrained to avow that your Majesty must needs yeild to him in one thing which is that you have not yet begot a Sonne that resembles you But certainly Sir wee cannot any longer time have this advantage over you All Europe requires Princes and princesses of you and it is certaine that the world ought not to end but when your race shall faile if you will then that the beauty of the things we see passe to another age If you wil that the publick tranquillity have an assured foundation and that your victories may be eternal you must talke no more of working powerfully nor of doing greate Acts of State but with the Queen Mons r Toyrax to the Duke of Buckingham MY Lord your curtesies are sufficiently known to all the world and you place them with so much judgment that those only may hope after them that make themselves worthy by their actions Now I know no action so worthy of that merit as for a man to imploy himself if in the defence of this place he vanquish not all difficulties so that no despair of succor nor fear of rigor in case of extreamity can ever make me quit a design so generous as also I shall esteeme my self unworthy of any your favours if in this action I omit the least point of my duty the issue whereof cannot be but honourable and by how much you adde to this glory by your valour and carriage by so much I am more bound to remaine during my life your Lordships humble and most obedient servant Toirax Ab ignoto concerning the estate of Rochel after the surrender SIR I presume you have long since heard the particulars of Roâ—hel and that by farre better relations then mine notwithstanding you may be pleased to know what I observed and learned there my selfe eight daies after the Kings entrance whither curiosity and some other causes drew me For the siege and Dike they prae caeteris excellens were in all parts most royall and farre more perfect and uniforme then relation could make me conceive The misery of the siege almost incredible but to such only as have seene it or some part thereof Corn was worth after the rate of 800 Franks the bushel an Oxe or Cow sold after the rate of 2000 Franks The host where I lay sold a Jade horse worth it may be four or five pounds for 800 Franks and for five and twenty weeks tasted no bread of twelve persons in his family only he and his wife are living who also within two daies had dyed if the Town had not been rendred He and his wife made a Collation the day before the Town was rendred which cost him about six or seven pound sterling their chear was a pound of bread made of Straw Sugar and other Spices halfe a pound of horse flesh three or foure ounces of Comfits and a pint of Wine which they imagin'd was the last good chear they should make together and in like case were all the rest of the Towne only two or three families of the better sort excepted by which you may conjecture what rates such kind of provision were at There were eaten between 3000 or 4000 Cow-hides all the dogs cats mice and rats they could get not a horse left alive which was food for the better sort only Madam Rohan after having eaten her Coach horse and her servants the Leather of her Coach removed though full sore against her will her lodging from Rochel to the Castle of Mooke or Nioeul where she is under guard and since it is said to the Bastile in Paris God send her and hers to heaven There died for want of food in Rochel 15000 and rested living when the King entred betweene three and four thousand of which there are since very many dead they dayly discover new miseries which when I was there were not spoken of the mother and the child at the brest both dead the child having eaten most part of the mothers brest a souldier was found dead with a piece of his fellows flesh in his mouth a Burger having a servant killed powdred her which fed him and his wife a long time and dainty meat too many languishing and finding themselves draw neer their ends caused their coffins to be carried into the Churches laid them down in them and so dyed these were of the better sort The common sort laid themselves down in Coffins in the Church yards and there dyed others in the streets others not able to go out of their houses dyed and remained there their friends being not able to remove them thence So that when the first Forces of the King entered there were in the Town of Corps unburied some in the
Masse and to the feete of the Idol interdicting assembles and all exercise of tâ—ue Religion â—n the same places beating imprisoning ransoming assasinating the faithful and their pastors with an inraged fury which hath exceeded all the inhumanities of the Inquisition profaning and demolishing of Temples their violence having proceeded so farre as publickly to burn in pomp and triumph the sacred books of Gods Covenant in presence of the Governor of the Province with damnable sacriledge which cryeth vengeance before God and doth elevate its voice to the eares Sir of a most puissant Monarch professing the purity of the Gospel zealous of his glory and capable to revenge so outragious an injury But your Majesty shal understand that all this hath produced an effect much contrary to the intention of our persecutors for so farre it is from us that their objects of pity and griefe whereof the very thought doth make us repine should render us faint-hearted and cause us to yeild our selves in prey to their rage that on the contrary seeing the Mask taken off and the pretext which they had alledged of the Army of rebellion whereof they accused us quite removed and that without any more dissimulation their design goes on to the ruinating of our Religion and the extirpation of our Church and that there remained no more hope of safety and liberty but generall resolution to die in the Arms of our just and vigorous defence and that our persecutors possessing the spirit of our King and hindring the effects of his bounty have obtained a declaration of the fifteenth of December last which alluring us to implore his grace and mercy yet leaveth us not any hope of enjoying the benefits of any edict nor by consequence of any tolerable peace and soliciting us to disarm our selves and to put our selves into the condition of sacrafices destined by one and by one to the slaughter to be all at one stroak offered up to the fury of Antichrist by one general Massacre throughout the whole Kingdome whereof we doe not only heare the vaunts but doe almost see great armies upon our backs for execution This makes us Sir have recourse to your Royal and redoubtable puissance as to a place of refuge which God hath yet left open to us in your Ardent charity to finde within your assistance assured and effectual means to avoid ruine which is ready inevitably to fal upon our heads And to attaine thereunto Sir we have religiously renewed in this assembly the oath of union which binds us with a sacred bond unto the Armes of your Majesty of the violating whereof your Majesty may be assured that we will never make our selves guilty being encouraged to this resolution by the reiterate confirmations which my Lord the Duke of Rohan hath lately given us that your Majesty continues to take to heart the assistance and deliverance of our Churches according to your Royal promises being debtors to his sage and valorous conduct and to his pious magnanimity for all that strength and liberty which we yet enjoy and we will leave unto posterity memorable examples of our Constancie which prefers death before reproachfull cowardize and shameful servitude hoping that out of our ashes God will draw matter for his glory and the propagation of his Church being perswaded Sir that you are the instrument of his election to give us comfort and deliverance from our evils in time convenient Be you assured also that he wil uphold us in that extraordinary valour wherewith he hath inspired us to endure all extremities with a patience invincible expecting the succour of his hands through yours Of all Sir which a great Monarch could ever doe in the world nothing can be more just then this interprize nor more glorious then this deliverance the Lord having exalted you to the most eminent degree of dignity and power to be the nursing father of his Church she hath right being thus mangled and bloody to stretch forth her arms unto you even shee that Spouse of Jesus Christ the common mother of Christians and and your mother also by the respect of her bruised members and of the searing of her innocent brest covered with wounds she will move your pity She assures her selfe Sir that the glorious title which you beare of the Defender of the faith shall interceede for your accepting of her humble request if you doe extend unto us your cares your affections and your formidable Armes you shall nourish in our hearts affections of honour and obedience which shall never die you shall daunt all powers that would raise themselves against your Crown you shall raise your glory to such a height that all the earth shall admire it all Christendome shall celebrate it and your name shall be of sweet odour unto Angels and men and in perpetual benediction unto all posterity of Saints and your reward shall be great and eternal in heaven May it please your Majesty to pardon us if our necessities pressing us we all do presse your Majesty by our instant supplications accompanied with a most humble respect to strengthen our selves so soon as may be with the honour of your commandments and the declaration of your favour the wholesome effects of your assistance according to the sweetnesse of your compassion and Charity and we will redouble our prayers to the divine clemency for the length and safety of your life and the prosperity of your estate being ready with a most holy and ardent affection to expose our goods and lives to render us worthy of the quality which we dare take of your most humble most obedient and most faithful servants the Deputies of the reformed Churches of France in their general Assembly held at Nismes and for all Jaques de Maresey adjunct la Reque The Duke of Rohan to his Majesty of great Brittain the 12 of March 1628. SIR the deplorable accâ—dent of the losse of Rochel which God hath suffered to humble us under his hand hath redoubled in the hearts of our enemies their passionate fiercenesse to our utter ruine with an assured hope to attain thereunto But it hath not taken away from the Churches of those Provinces either the heart or the affection to oppose their unjust plots by a just and lively defence This is it hath made them take resolution to assemble themselves to cojoyn in the midst of these commotions to assist me with their good counsels and with me to provide the means of their deliverance And for as much as the greatest support which God hath raised unto them upon earth is the succour our Churches have and do look to receive from your Majesty the general Assembly hath desired that my Letters which alone hitherto have represented unto your Majesty the interest of the publick cause might be joyned to their most humble supplications put up to your Majesty I do it Sir with so much the more affection because I am a witnesse that these poor people who with sighes and groanes
implore your assistance having once laid down their weapons which the oppression of their enemies made so necessary because they knew such was your desire to take them up again so soon as they heard that your Majesty did oblige them thereunto by your Counsel and Promises they have upon this only assurance continued all dangers surmounted all oppositions accounted their estates as nothing and are still ready to spend their bloud till the very last drop they esteem your love and favour more precious then their own lives and whatsoever promises or threatnings have been used to shake their constant resolution they could never be brought to make any breach in that they had tyed themselves to never to hear of any Treaty without your consent This great zeal for the preservation of all the Churches of this Kingdome which is naturally knit to the preservation of these few we have left and that fidelity with our example are worthy and glorious subjects to exercise your Charity and Power You are Sir Defender of that Faith whereof they make profession suffer it not to be so unjustly oppressed you have stirred up their affection in this defence by your royal promises and those Sacred words that your Majesty would imploy all the power in your Dominions to warrant and protect all our Churches from the ruine that threatned them have been after Gods favour the onely foundation of all their hope so the Churches should thinke no greater a Crime could be committed by them then doubt of your Royal performance thereof if their miseries and Calamities have at the beginning moved your Compassion This wofull subject hath increased with such violence that nothing but your succor can prevent their utter undoing for at this day the greatest offence our Enemies lay to our Charge and proclaim nothing can expiate but our blood is to have implored your aid and hope for it for this cause our Lands and Possessions are taken away and destroyed our houses made desolate and reduced to ashes our heads exposed to sale to murtherers our families banished and wheresoever the cruelty of them that hate us can extend men and women are dragged and beaten to Mass with Bastinadoes To be short the horrour of the persecution we suffer is so great that our words are too weak to express it Moreover we see great and mighty Armies at our Gates that waite their onely fit time to fall with impetuosity upon the places of retreat that remain and after that to expel and banish the exercise of Religion and massacre all the faithfull ones throughout the whole kingdomes These things considered Sir I do beseech your Majesty not to forsake us I should feare by such words to offend so great so potent and so faithfull a king But because of urgent necessity that presseth us I have presumed importunately to intreat the hastening of your assistance to keep us from falling under the heavy burthen of our Enemies endeavors Your Majesty need not to draw but out of the source of your own profound wisedom for the fit meanes how to make your succor dreadfull and powerfull to those that contemne it and salutiferous to so many people that wait and long for it Your Majesty shall by this meanes acquire the greatest glory that can be desired pluck out from the fire and sword three hundred thousand families that continually pray to God for your prosperity preserve a people whom God hath purchased with his most pretious blood and which hath even in the middest of most eminent dangers and cruellest torments kept intire a sound and an upright faith both towards God and man you shall settle the fidelity of your word the reputation of your kingdomes and Armes to a pitch worthy of your grandeur and in repressing of the audaciousness of those that go about every day to blemish the same through their vile and unworthy reproches you shal add to your titles that of the Restorer of a people the most innocent and most barbarously persecuted that ever was In that which concerns me Sir I will not make mention to your Majesty of my owne Interest though I might doe it having as it seems the honor to be unto you what I am but I have so long since consecrated all things with my selfe to the publicke good that I shall esteeme my self happie enough so that the Church were not miserably distressed and that I may have this advantage that through my actions which your Majestie will not disavow I may make it known that I am Your Majesties most humble and most obedient servant Henry de Rohan Pope Gregory the 15 to the Inquisitor-General of Spain April 19. 1623. Venerable Brother THe protection of the Orthodox Religion in the most spacious Kingdoms of Spain we think to be happily committed to your Fraternity for we know with what watchful vigilancie in this renowned station you are careful that Monsters of wicked doctrine steal not into the bounds of the Church and Vine But at this time occasion from heaven is offered you by which you may extend the benefits of your piety beyond the bounds of those Kingdoms and extend them also to forraign Countries We understand that the Prince of Wales the King of Great Britains son is lately arrived there carried with a hope of Catholike Marriage Our desire is that he should not stay in vain in the Courts of those Kings to whom the defence of the Popes authority and care of advancing Religion hath procured the renowned name of Catholique Wherefore by Apostolike Lettets we exhort his Catholike Majestie that he would gently endeavour sweetly to reduce that Prince to the obedience of the Romane Church to which the ancient Kings of Great Britain have with heavens approbation submitted their Crowns and Scepters Now to the attaining of this victory which to the conquered promiseth triumphs and principalities of heavenly felicity we need not exhaust the Kings treasure nor levie Armies of furious souldiers but we must fetch from heaven the armour of Light whose divine splendor may allure that Princes eye and gently expel all errours from his minde Now in the managing of these businesses what power and art you have we have well known long ago wherefore we wish you to go like a religious Counsellor to the Catholike King and to try all ways which by this present occasion may benefit the Kingdoms of Britain and the Church of Rome The matter is of great weight and moment and therefore not to be amplified with words Whosoever shall enflame the minde of this Royal youth with the love of the Catholike Religion and breed a hate in him of Heretical impiety shall begin to open the Kingdom of heaven to the Prince of Britain and to gain the Kingdoms of Britain to the Apostolike See into the possession of so great glory I make no doubt but that your Fraternity armed with the sword of Verity will be desirous to come About which matter our venerable brother Innocent Bishop of
for the expectation whereof Tyrone would win time I see no deep cause of distrusting the cause if it be good And for the question her Majesty seemeth to me a winner three ways First her purse shall have rest Next it will divert the foreign designes upon that place Thirdly though her Majesty is like for a time to govern Precario in the North and be not in true command in better state there then before yet besides the two respects of ease of charge and advantage of opinion abroad before mentioned she shall have a time to use her Princely policy in two points In the one to weaken by division and disunion of the heads the other by recovering and winning the people by justice which of all other causes is the best Now for the Athenian question you discourse well Quid igitur agendum est I will shoot my fools bolt since you will have it so The Earle of Ormond to be encouraged and comforted above all things the Garrisons to be instantly provided for For opportunity makes a thief and if he should mean never so well now yet such an advantage as the breaking of her Majesties Garrisons might tempt a true man And because he may as well waver upon his own inconstancy as upon occasion and wont of variableness is never restrained but with fear I hold it necessary he be menaced with a strong war not by words but by Musters and preparations of forces here in case the Accord proceed not but none to be sent over lest it disturb the Treaty and make him look to be over-run as soon as he hath laid down Arms. And but that your Lordship is too easie to passe in such cases from dissimulation to verity I think if your Lordship lent your reputation in this case it is to pretend that if not a defensive war as in times past but a full reconquest of those parts of the Countrey be resolved on you would accept the charge I think it would help to settle him and win you a great deal of honor gratis And that which most properly concerneth this action if it prove a peace I think her majesty shall do well to cure the root of the disease and to profess by a commission of peaceable men chiefly of respect and countenance and reformation of abuses extortions and injustices there and to plant a stronger and surer government then heretofore for the ease and protection of the subject for the removing of the sword or government in Arms from the Earle of Ormond or the sending of a Deputy which will ecclipse it if peace follow I think unseasonable Lastly I hold still my opinion both for your better information and your fuller declaration of your care and medling and meriting service that your Lordship have a set conference with the persons I named in my former writing I rest At your Lordships service FR. BACON Another to the Earl before his going to Ireland MY singular good Lord your note of my silence in your occasions hath made me set down these few wandring lines as one that would say somwhat and can say nothing touching your Lordships intended charge for Ireland which my endeavour I know your Lordship will accept graciously and well whether your Lordship take it by the handle of th' occasion ministred from your self or of th' affection from which it proceedeth your Lordship is designed to a service of great merit and great perill and as the greatness of the peril must needs include no small consequence of perill if it be not temperately governed for all immoderate successe extinguisheth merit and seareth up distaste and envy the assured fore-runner of whole changes of peril But I am at the last point first some good spirit leading my pen to presage to your Lordships success wherein it is true I am not without my Oracle and Divinations none of them superstitious and yet not all naturall For first looking into the course of Gods providence in things now depending and calling into consideration how great things God hath done by her Majesty and for her collect he hath disposed of this great dissection in Ireland whereby to give an urgent occasion to the reduction of that whole kingdom as upon the rebellion of Desmond there ensued the reduction of that Province Next your Lordship goeth against three of the unluckiest vices of all other Disloyalty Ingratitude Insosolence which three offences in all examples have seldome their doom adjourned to the world to come Lastly he that shall have had the honor to know your Lordship inwardly as I have had shall find bona extra whereby he may better ground a divination of good then upon the dissection of a Sacrifice But that part I leave for it is fit for others to be confident upon you you to be confident upon the cause the goodnesse justice whereof is such as can hardly be matched in any example it being no ambitious war of Foreigns but a recovery of subjects and that after lenity of conditions often tried and a recovery of them not onely to obedience but to humanity and policy from more then Indian Barbarism There is yet another kind of divination familiar in matters of State being that which Demosthenes so often relieth upon in his time where he saith That which for the time past is worst of all is for the time to come the best which is that things go ill not by accident but by error wherein if your Lordship have been a waking Censor but must look for no other now but Medice cura teipsum And although your Lordship shal not be the blessed Physician that cometh to the declination of the disease yet you imbrace that condition which many Noble Spirits have accepted for advantage which is that you go upon the greater perill of your fortune and the less of your reputation and so the honor countervaileth the adventure of which honor your Lordship is in no small possession when that her Majesty known to be one of the most judicious Princes in discerning of spirits that ever governed hath made choyce of you meerly out of her Royall judgement her affection inclining rather to continue your attendance into whose hands trust to put the commandement conduct of so great forces the gathering in the fruit of so great charge the execution of so many Councels the redeeming of the defaults of so many former Governors and the clearing of the glory of so many happy years reign onely in this part excepted Nay further how far forth the perill of that State is interlaced with the perill of England and therefore how great the honor is to keep and defend the approaches of this kingdom I hear many discourse and indeed there is a great difference whether the Tortoise gather her selfe into her shell hurt or unhurt And if any man be of opinion that the nature of an enemy doth extenuate the honour of a service being but a Rebell and a Savage I